My neighbor who is a nurse practitioner told me she has never seen so many flu cases this early in the season. She saw 21 patients on Wednesday and 11 tested positive for the flu.
I had putting off the flu shot, wanted to do Covid booster first but she urged me to get my flu shot sooner rather than later which I did. If you were thinking about getting a flu shot, now is the time.
Just for reference I am in SC.
Australia has a just had its worst flu season in at least the last 5 years. Social distancing and mask wearing do work in reducing diseases spread by aerosols, which is why Australia had virtually no flu seasons in the last two years.
Stay safe, wear a good mask in crowded conditions, socially distance and wash your hands. Also get your flu and pneumonia shots: healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...
How soon we forget. 
Update: I've added in a plot of confirmed flu cases in Australia for each week over the past 5 years. In 2020, the flu season began as normal, with cases picking up in early Autumn (Fall). They dropped to zero when lockdowns were introduced in late March, which successfully saved thousands of lives as we didn't had COVID-19 vaccines. Interestingly, we still didn't have a 2021 flu season despite lockdowns being lifted in 2021 with COVID-19 vaccination roll-outs, but importantly we still had masking mandates, which were gradually lifted in 2022. When mask wearing was only recommended, people generally didn't wear masks.
Neil
There's a slightly different southern hemisphere view but with the same message from Chile, as reported in this Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report by the CDC: cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/...
I've underlined the important parts of my report extracts, but the common message is that this flu season is likely to be atypical and can be expected to be much worse than the last two years if flu vaccination rates are down, and relaxations on physical distancing and face mask use:
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected influenza virus transmission, with historically low activity, atypical timing, or altered duration of influenza seasons during 2020–22 (1,2). Community mitigation measures implemented since 2020, including physical distancing and face mask use, have, in part, been credited for low influenza detections globally during the pandemic, compared with those during prepandemic seasons (1). Reduced population exposure to natural influenza infections during 2020–21 and relaxed community mitigation measures after introduction of COVID-19 vaccines could increase the possibility of severe influenza epidemics.
Among persons prioritized to receive influenza vaccination in Chile during 2022 (adults aged ≥65 years, persons aged 11–64 years with chronic conditions, pregnant women, infants and children aged 6 months–10 years, and certain other persons§§) who accounted for 41% of the total population, 92.5% were vaccinated. Although 2022 Southern Hemisphere formulation vaccines were not available before the first unseasonal influenza wave during weeks 1–6, approximately 88% of vaccinated persons received their vaccine before the peak of 2022 influenza activity in week 24.
The discussion section concludes:
These data from Chile’s 2022 influenza season indicate that influenza activity in the Southern Hemisphere was atypical, likely because of continued effects of emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in 2020. Strict observance of community mitigation measures (9) and high influenza vaccination coverage likely mitigated influenza incidence in Chile during the 2022 season. Northern Hemisphere countries could benefit from preparing for an atypical season, which could include early influenza activity with potentially severe disease for the 2022–23 season, especially in the absence of prevention measures, including vaccination. Health officials should encourage communities to protect themselves by seeking influenza vaccination in accordance with CDC recommendations and taking precautions to reduce transmission of influenza, including avoiding close contact with persons who are ill (10).
Neil
my best guess is you’re in South Carolina in America? But I may be (very) wrong 🤗. Not sure what the current flu situation is here in the UK - booked my flu jab a fortnight ago - earliest I could get was early November, I’m really hoping that’s going to be good enough.. (Now going to look at an atlas so that I know exactly where South Carolina is - for half an hour or so at least 🤔).
You are right😁I am in South Carolina. Maybe in the UK flu season is not in full swing yet. Funny enough I got my flu shot at a drive through. All they do is COVID testing and Covid and flu vaccines. No need for an appointment, just drive up.
hello Alex, apparently (according to someone else on this site) our flu is ramping up here too! Oh, and I did look up South Carolina and I now (still!) know where it is - which turned out to be not quite where I thought. The trick now is to retain that knowledge - seemingly more difficult the older I get.
My husband was offered a flu jab at the same time as he had his Covid jab, unfortunately he told them he’d had one (He had, over a year ago). A week later they didn’t offer me one and (a different place than previously) they were so offhand I didn’t feel like asking. So, nearly November now and we’ll be stabbed too. Hurrah- I think?
Keep well, Clare
Unfortunately I can’t get the flu shot- I’m highly allergic. I know it will never happen, but I wish they would bring back mask mandates, at least through flu season. I wear mine year round regardless.
Flu Shot
Evusheld-Flu-Covid Injections In Two Weeks Timeframe
