LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- It may still be summer, but the flu is already in Louisville.
Jason Morrison with Norton Children’s Medical Associates – Poplar Level said the flu usually starts in October. His office has already seen about a dozen cases since August.
“It's hard to believe,” he said. “For this time of year, absolutely, it is alarming."
Morrison recommends everyone get their flu shot as soon as possible. The CDC is encouraging people get it by the end of next month.
“Last year, unfortunately, was a record year for the amount of deaths that we attributed to the flu, especially in our pediatric populations,” Morrison said.
According to the CDC, 180 children died from the flu last season, including five in Kentucky. A total of 700,000 people were hospitalized. Many are questioning the effectiveness of the vaccine and if they should even get it, because last year, the shot was only 40 percent effective.
“As for an argument of not getting the shot, I would say that even if you got the shot and you were to get the flu, research will show it will shorten the symptoms and the severity," Morrison said. "So it's beneficial to get the shot."
And Morrison said this flu season could be as bad as the last one.
“It's kind of hard to not feel that way after last year and especially with these early cases that we're already getting," he said. "It does feel like this could be a pretty bad season."
In addition to the shot, Morrison said to wash your hands and stay away from people who are already sick to keep from getting the flu.
Flu season peaks between December and February.
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