CDC Says Flu Season is Not Over, Reports Flu Will Linger Until End of April

vaccine was 59% effective this year

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – While this flu season is the mildest in 3 years, it is not over. Usually the peak comes in February and starts to fade by March, but the CDC reports that the flu is still spreading.

Expectations are that the flu will linger until the end of April.

The good news is the vaccine this year was a good match for the year’s strains of flu. The vaccine was 59 percent effective this year, which is significantly higher than in years past.

The CDC is still recommending the vaccine even at this late stage because the peak has not even seen in many areas and there will be some cases here and there throughout the year.

Despite the mild season, 20 children have died from documented flu cases. In a typical year, flu complications, including pneumonia send more than 200,000 Americans to the hospital. Death can occur in as many as 49,000 per year.

Most people over 6 months of age are advised to get the vaccine. Exceptions are people with life threatening allergies to the vaccine or any of its ingredients.

Those who are prime candidates for the vaccine are pregnant women, senior citizens and people with chronic health problems, including lung and heart disease.

For more information or to reach Dr. Pinsky, call 321-255-2289, like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Mark Pinsky has been practicing medicine for more than 20 years and is the director of the Pinsky Family and Sports Medicine Center in Viera, Florida, where he provides one-on-one care to his patients.

“My goal is to educate patients about their medical conditions so they can learn how to prevent disease or minimize complications from their existing conditions,” said Dr. Pinsky.

Dr. Pinsky is board certified in Family Medicine by the American Academy of Family Medicine and completed his doctorate degree from the University Of Health Sciences College Of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Missouri. His family practice residency was served at the University of Louisville in Kentucky.

In addition, Dr. Pinsky completed a sports medicine fellowship in Cleveland, Ohio with Lutheran Medical Center in conjunction with Horizon Orthopedics; the team physicians for the Cleveland Indians. He also has a certificate of additional qualifications in Sports Medicine from the American Academy of Family Practice. Dr. Pinsky also speaks nationally for several pharmaceutical companies.

SPORTS MEDICINE VETERAN

Dr. Pinsky has worked closely with high school, college, Olympic and professional athletes. During his 20-year career in Brevard County, Florida, he has served as the team physician for several high schools.

Currently, Dr. Pinsky provides care for Viera High School athletes, and is a partner of Medical Associates of Brevard.

Dr. Pinsky is dedicated to patient-centered care through MDVIP, a nationwide network of physicians whose sole purpose is to provide superior individualized healthcare.

MDVIP makes patient medical issues their top priority. As an MDVIP physician, Dr. Pinsky takes pride in doing just that for each and every patient in his practice.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Dr. Mark Pinsky log on to PinskyWellness.com

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