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Influenza activity is currently low in Iowa and people are encouraged to get their annual flu vaccines. Washington County Public Health Nurse Erin James explains it takes two weeks for the vaccine to build up in your system after receiving it.

She says getting the flu shot can help protect those around you, “I would strongly encourage anybody that’s able to, that’s old enough to, to get your flu vaccine. Because again, the flu vaccine is not just for you, it is for all of the little babies and all of the immune-compromised people that are unable to actually get vaccinated.” She says it’s recommended that people get their flu vaccines soon, “We try to encourage that usually by the end of October at the latest.”

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, last week there was one influenza-related hospitalization in the state and four influenza antigen positive results. The proportion of outpatient visits due to influenza-like illness was 2.17%, above the regional baseline of 1.7%. People are encouraged to clean their hands frequently, cover their coughs, and contain illness by staying home when they are sick to help prevent the spread of virus.