Flu Hospitalizations Top 2,000 In Ohio

More than 2,100 Ohioans have been hospitalized because of the seasonal flu, the Ohio Department of Health said. At this same time last year, there were only 369 flu-related hospitalizations. The last time the flu season was this bad was 2014-2015. During that time, there were more than 2,800 flu-related hospitalizations.

One of the reasons this year's flu has hit so hard is the apparent ineffectiveness of the flu vaccine.

To determine the effectiveness of the flu vaccine, health departments, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), use surveillance data from Australia, where flu season is winding down. The data shows this year's vaccine has been significantly less effective against A(H3N2), a circulating flu virus strain.

Still, the ODH wants people to get vaccinated because it's the best defense against the flu.

"No vaccine is 100 percent effective but there are many reasons to get a flu vaccination," said Dr. Clint Koenig, medical director of the ODH, in a statement in December. "Flu vaccination prevents millions of illnesses and tens of thousands of flu-related hospitalizations each year in the U.S. A study published earlier this year in a pediatric journal shows that flu vaccination can significantly reduce a child's risk of dying from influenza."

It takes approximately two weeks from the time of a shot for a flu vaccine to settle into a system and offer protection.

To find a flu shot vaccination clinic near you, click here.

The flu can cause serious complications for pregnant women and young children, Koenig said. He suggests that all women who are or expect to be pregnant, get a flu shot.

Besides getting a vaccine, people should also follow some basic tips to prevent spreading the flu:

• Wash your hand frequently, using an alcohol-based sanitizer
• Cover all coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing or sneezing into your elbow
• Avoid touching your eyes, hands, nose or mouth
• Stay home when you're sick, at least until your fever has been broken for 24-hours (without the aid of medication)

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