State health officials are reminding residents to get their flu shot as soon as possible.
“Flu season started last week. Although flu seasons can be very variable, we know that last year we saw more cases of the flu,” Pennsylvania Acting Health Secretary Dr. Denise Johnson said. “It’s predicted that this year could be even worse.”
Meanwhile, the FDA recently approved that anyone five years and older is now eligible to receive the Pfizer bivalent COVID booster. Johnson says it’s important to get the latest COVID booster shot in order to prevent severe illness from the virus.
“These bivalent boosters can really give us more protection against hospitalization and that’s what we’re really trying to prevent–more people getting hospitalized,” Johnson said. “So, certainly as we head into the winter season we want to decrease those hospitalizations.”
Anyone who is six months and older is eligible for the flu shot; the bivalent booster is for any individual five years and older.
