BUFFALO, N.Y. — Flu season is here, and it has come 6 weeks early.
"They detect that early spike of flu cases and it looks like the State Department of Health has already detected that," said Dr. Chester Fox. He's a family practice doctor at The Greater Buffalo United Accountable Health Care Network or GBUAHN.
The State Health Commissioner has declared influenza prevalent across New York. So far, there's been 691 flu-related hospitalizations and one child has died in the state. Dr. Fox encourages everyone to protect themselves and others by getting the flu shot.
"The other reason for getting the flu shot is not just for yourself. It's for not infecting somebody else, especially the elderly," said Dr. Fox.
He said to get your flu shot as fast as you can.
"Normally you have time to get the flu shot. Usually the big time for the flu is January/February. This year we're looking at a very difficult season beginning early," said Dr. Fox, "It makes it worse."
Fox said the flu can spread faster because so many people haven't gotten vaccinated yet, mainly, because they think they have time. But based off the NYS Heath Department report, they don't.
'It's here now. So not only do you need to get the shot, you need to get it now," Dr. Fox said, "You end up not sick, not in the hospital, not dead, for one shot."
