Health officials urge Austinites to get the flu shot

An alarming increase in cases of upper respiratory virus, especially among children, has Austin Public Health epidemiologists urging Austinites to take preventive measures to decrease their chances of contracting an illness this holiday season. Getting up to date with flu and Covid-19 vaccines is the most important thing you can do to stay healthy and keep others around you healthy. According to APH, the region’s emergency rooms “are inundated with patients suffering from upper respiratory illnesses. The flu positivity rate in Travis County for the most recent reporting period is 26.88 percent. It’s usually below 10 percent at this point in the season. The percentage of visits to health care providers due to flu-like illness is 8 percent – much higher than at this point the last few years.” Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority, didn’t mince words, saying, “If you haven’t already, please get your seasonal flu shot. If we can limit the prevalence of those viruses in our community, it will help our already short-staffed health care system care for high-risk patients.” Find vaccine resources here.