Believe it or not, we're moving into the flu season.
It doesn't seem like it was that long ago that the last season ended, but it peaked later than normal.
Sure, above-90-degree temperatures remind us this is still technically summer.
The flu season officially starts Oct. 1. That's less than two weeks away.
And health officials are strongly encouraging people to get their flu shots now.
Leading the way was Dr. Randall Williams, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, who got his own flu shot Wednesday at the Cole County Health Department, 3400 W. Truman Blvd. in Jefferson City.
"Last year, we increased our vaccination rate (in Missouri) remarkably," Williams said. "The governor helped us with that campaign. The United Health Foundation Women and Children state health rankings came out yesterday. We increased more than any other state in the country."
One of the vaccinations in which the state did better than most was influenza, according to the report.
The report states Missouri had the 14th-highest rate of influenza vaccinations in the country.
"We're still only at about 35 percent for total vaccinations," Williams said. "Even the best states are only at about 45 percent."
Last year's vaccination was very effective, he said. The flu wasn't nearly as widespread or severe as it was the previous year, and that can be attributed to an effective vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated the vaccine prevented 7 million people nationwide from coming down with the flu last season. And the CDC estimated it prevented 100,000 hospitalizations.
Seasonal flu viruses are detected year-round, according to the CDC, but flu activity usually begins to increase in October and peak from December through February.
California health officials report a 4-year-old child died of the flu last week.
Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses and can cause mild to severe illness. Serious outcomes can result in hospitalization or death. Some people are at high risk of serious flu complications.
That's one reason Haley Sullivan joined Williams in getting a flu shot Wednesday.
Sullivan, who is 23 weeks pregnant with her first child, said she had never had a flu shot before. But she wanted to protect her child from the virus.
"The thing we're trying to highlight today is the importance of the flu shot for pregnant women. While it is extremely important for every Missourian to get their flu shot, it is especially important that those in high-risk groups receive their vaccinations," Williams said. "While we were encouraged last year by lower incidence rates of flu in Missouri, we cannot let down our guard and skip flu shots, or we may see increased rates of incidence and flu-related deaths in the state."
Flu is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant women than in women of reproductive age who are not pregnant. Changes to the immune system, heart and lungs during pregnancy make pregnant women more prone to severe illness from the flu, according to the CDC.
A common flu symptom is fever, which may be associated with neural tube defects and other adverse outcomes for a developing baby.
Moms also pass antibodies on to the developing baby during their pregnancies.
Beginning Oct. 1, the CDC monitors spread of influenza across the United States with reports from each state.
It is especially important for adults older than 65, pregnant women, young children and people with conditions that affect their immune systems - like asthma, heart disease or stroke, diabetes, HIV/AIDS or cancer - to get the flu vaccination.
It may take up to two weeks for someone who gets the shot to receive protection from the flu.
"We want everybody to get their flu shots," Williams said. "And we want them to pay attention as the season evolves to (influenza) updates."