An article published today on Fox News reports that while there is a current trend towards declining vaccination rates, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are still urging adults to get the flu shot, prior to the upcoming flu season.
Americans are urged not to delay getting their flu shot, as the country has seen vaccination rates fall by 1.5 percentage points from 2014 to 2015. The Director of the CDC, Dr. Tom Frieden stressed that not getting vaccinated can be deadly.
“Getting a flu vaccine is important for all of us, for our own protection and for the protection of those around us who may be more vulnerable to flu, such as young children, people with certain chronic health conditions and the elderly,” Frieden said during the press conference, which was held with the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).
As well as getting vaccinated, to prevent the flu, the CDC recommends avoiding close contact with visibly ill people, covering the nose and mouth when sneezing, washing hands, and taking antiviral drugs as prescribed.