Dr. Marc Jenkins (photo: University of Minnesota)
MINNEAPOLIS – University of Minnesota Medical School officials are encouraging people to get the flu shot this season.
Professor Marc Jenkins said the vaccine isn’t perfect, but it is our best protection from getting really sick or dying.
“The vaccine isn’t perfect, but it’s definitely going to reduce the amount of flu virus in one’s body if you’re infected,” Jenkins said. “And even if the vax doesn’t knock out all the virus right away, it’s going to reduce it a lot and you’re going to be a lot loss sick and maybe you won’t be sick at all.”
Jenkins said flu activity was low the past two seasons due to masking and social distancing and those restrictions have since been lifted.
“That’s almost certainly related to social distancing and wearing masks,” Jenkins said. “So, those two things and avoiding crowded spaces, probably dropped all respiratory infections during that period.”
Jenkins said he thinks we could be in for a severe flu season.
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