Annual influenza vaccines are recommended by the end of October this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It takes two weeks for the immunization to build up in your system. Washington County Public Health Nurse Lynn Fisher says a vaccine protects not only you but those around you too, “You’ll really create a cocoon around those people. Because you’re right, those people will not be able to receive a flu vaccine. So that will help prevent you from getting the flu and then protect them. So it really is like an invisible shield around the person that can’t get vaccinated. When you yourself are going to be protected and won’t be getting the flu, influenza won’t be able to get into your family unit.”

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, influenza activity in Iowa is sporadic and low at this time, with three identified cases of influenza A in the state last week. The predominate non-influenza virus is rhinovirus/enterovirus with 209 cases. Fisher adds in addition to a vaccine, cleaning your hands frequently, covering your coughs and sneezes, and containing germs by staying home when you’re ill can help prevent the spread of illness.