Doctors urge vaccination, predict surge in flu cases

SALT LAKE CITY — Flu and cold season might appear to be ending, but medical officials warn that another surge could be on its way.

Dr. Tamara Sheffield, a Senior Medical Director at Intermountain Healthcare, told KSL about the highs and lows of this year’s flu cases.

“We had a very high and early peak of flu cases in December,” said Sheffield. “And we’ve seen a really sharp decrease in the number [of flu cases] in just the past couple of weeks.”

Sheffield said the same pattern of highs and lows happened last year and that they predict another surge will hit in the spring.

Medical officials have seen a lower rate of vaccinations this year compared to previous years. Sheffield suggested everyone get vaccinated to prepare for the upcoming second wave of influenza.

Sheffield noted that though people may still catch the flu after vaccination, symptoms will be less severe.

According to Sheffield, vaccines may not always prevent a person from catching the flu. However, she explained, it “prevents you from ending up in the emergency room, ending up in the hospital and for that small number of individuals, dying from it as well.”

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