A warning from the CDC is advising doctors and clinicians that more than half of this year's flu samples didn't match well with the current vaccine. It's a warning that makes Fresno County's Department of Public Health nervous.
"Our concern is that people will think that, 'oh, there's not as much protection in the vaccine this year' that people won't go out and get vaccinated," said Joe Prado with the Department of Public Health.
In fact, he says, that warning is all the more reason to get the flu shot.
"It's still 48 percent effective for that one particular strain," said Prado.
The concern is over H3N2. According to the CDC, it is more severe than the other strains, there are more hospitalizations and more deaths. Those most at risk are people over 65 and children under the age of 2.
Dr. William van Beever says Peachwood Pediatrics has already seen a few cases of the flu this season.
"The flu can cause a number of secondary illnesses -- pneumonia, ear infections -- so we're really trying to prevent the secondary infections that flu can cause," he said. "Also, flu causes a lot of just downtime -- kids are out of school, parents have to take off work, so we're trying to prevent all of those."
Dr. van Beever encourages hand washing, not touching your face and getting that vaccine. The shot protects against four strains of the flu.
"Each year is different based upon what the flu virus is doing in the world, so we try to attempt to guess what it's gonna be this year and that's what the flu vaccine is protecting against," he said.
As with other strains of the flu, if you develop symptoms like fever, muscle aches, congestion, cough and fatigue, doctors want to see you.
In Fresno County last year, 22 people under the age of 65 died from complications from the flu.
A flu clinic will be held Saturday at the Fresno County Department of Public Health, which is located at 1221 Fulton Mall in Downtown Fresno. The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to noon.
Click here for more information about this and other area flu vaccination clinics.