Health experts agree that when it comes to monitoring the annual influenza season, the only common denominator is how unpredictable it is.The timing, severity and length of the season varies each year. Seasonal flu activity often begins as early as October, usually peaks between December and February, and can last as late as May.Every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors the severity of the influenza season based upon three indicators:#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');— The percentage of visits to outpatient clinics for influenza-like illness (ILI)— The rates of influenza-associated hospitalizations— The percentage of deaths resulting from influenza or pneumonia.The CDC classified last year’s flu season as moderate overall. By comparison, the 2017-18 season was classified as high and the 2016-17 season was classified as moderate.With so many unpredictable elements, there are standard guidelines local officials follow. “We recommend receiving the flu vaccine before the end of October and have scheduled the majority of our field clinics during this time to help our community meet this recommendation,” said Shelby Bodenstab, senior certified public health nurse at the Del Norte County Department of Health and Human Services.Bodenstab said that from 2013 to 2018, Del Norte County had no reported cases of influenza-associated deaths. She added, however, that county-specific data regarding other indicators, such as hospitalizations or medical visits for influenza-like symptoms, were unavailable.Ben Cannon, public health administrator for Curry Community Health, said the 2018-19 season seemed to peak later in the season (February through March), while previous seasons peaked from December to January.The rise in ILI was similar to the 2017-18 season, Cannon said.He added Curry County’s numbers tended to follow the national and state averages, classified as average ILI last year.According to Oregon Health Authority numbers, there were no influenza-related deaths among the adult population and five among the pediatric population through May of the 2018-19 season.To ensure there are enough flu vaccines for an unpredictable season, the CDC reported that manufacturers have projected they will provide 162 million to 169 million doses in the U.S. This is similar to the projected supply for last season, the CDC said.Another constant each flu season is who should get a vaccine. Both Bodenstab and Cannon stick to CDC guidelines:— The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older.— Adults ages 65 and older should receive the high-dose flu vaccine, which contains four times the amount of antigen as a regular flu shot.— Some children between ages 6 months and 8 years will need twodoses of flu vaccine this year.“We very much recommend parents to connect with their child’s primary-care provider as soon as possible in order to receive the second dose by the end of October,” Bodenstab said.Even with a flu shot, health experts agree that it is still possible to become symptomatic afterwards. And while subtle, there are differences in symptoms between the common cold and the flu (see chart).The biggest difference is the speed of the onset of symptoms — colds tend to be more gradual, while the flu is more abrupt.Bodenstab said people who are already experiencing mild flu-like symptoms usually recover in less than two weeks and do not need additional medical care or antiviral drugs. Those who are at high risk of flu complications or are concerned about their illness should be treated by a doctor.“The flu vaccine won’t help to treat any of the symptoms of the flu. It helps prevent illness and decrease the severity. Also, it typically takes about two weeks to develop immune protection. It is possible, however, to become ill from more than one strain of influenza in a season. This is why vaccines typically guard against three or four strains, and each time you contract the flu you are at just as great a risk for potential complications, such as pneumonia or sepsis,” Bodenstab explained.The CDC said flu vaccines protect against the three or four most-common viruses. For 2019-20, trivalent (three-component) vaccines are recommended to contain Brisbane and Kansas A-strains viruses and the Colorado B-strain virus.Quadrivalent (four-component) vaccines, which protect against a second lineage of B viruses, contain the additional protection against the Phuket B-strain virus in addition to the other three.Bodenstab said mild reactions are expected after receiving the flu vaccine. The most common side effects are soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling at the site of the vaccine. A low-grade fever, headache and muscle aches may also occur.Bodenstab said even if you've had the flu, or think you might have had the flu, it's important to get your flu shot if you haven't had one already this season.“Getting the flu shot also has other benefits besides keeping you from getting sick with the flu. It also reduces the severity of the illness if you do get sick with the flu. It also can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalizations, prevent serious medical events for those with heart disease, diabetes and chronic lung disease.“It helps protect women during and after pregnancy, and can protect a baby after birth from the flu,” Bodenstab said.She added that getting a flu vaccine also protects those around you, especially those who are the most vulnerable to the flu — babies, older adults and people with chronic health conditions.Bodenstab said it is important to differentiate between influenza and the “stomach flu,” which is used to describe nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. “The flu is a respiratory disease and not a stomach or intestinal disease,” she said.To learn more about the 2019-20 flu season, go to the CDC webpage frequently-asked questions at https://bit.ly/33dtWgY. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });