Health officials urge Utahns to get flu shot

SALT LAKE CITY — The saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." National and state health officials are advising Utahns to get their flu shots this season to avoid a potentially dangerous outbreak.

"Because influenza is a highly infectious and unpredictable virus, vaccination is one of the most important steps in protecting against influenza infection," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, assistant U.S. surgeon general and director for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. She was the keynote speaker at the annual Utah Influenza Summit Wednesday at the Miller Campus of Salt Lake Community College.

Schuchat said public outreach has become a priority for health agencies in recent years in an effort to prevent a major epidemic.

"Last year, we heard a lot about the flu because we were having a pandemic, but every year, seasonal influenza ... causes a lot of illness, hospitalizations and death."

She said health agencies are expecting a better supply of vaccine this year, which should help to reduce the number of flu cases in Utah and nationwide.

The Utah Department of Health is recommending that every person six months and older receive a flu vaccination this season. In 2009, the H1N1 flu wreaked havoc statewide and worldwide, resulting one of the worst flu seasons in years.

"We had 49 deaths (and) 1,300 people hospitalized," said Dr. David Sundwall, executive director of the state health department. But he said the problem might have been even worse without so many Utahns heeding the warning to get their flu shots and following the other suggestions disseminated through public outreach like frequent hand washing, staying at home when sick and covering coughs and sneezes to prevent the spread of airborne germs.

"Some people said (we) made too much of the (flu) problem, but when you see information on the number of hospitalizations and death, it was not overblown," he said.

Sundwall said vaccines will be available through local health departments, pharmacies and health care providers.

To locate a vaccination clinic, visit www.immunize-utah.org or contact the Utah Immunization Hotline at 1-800-275-0659.

"We know when you get the flu, it can be a miserable disease," Schuchat said. "You can miss school or work for several days."