Every year thousands of people die from influenza, but despite that fact, just 31-percent of adults in Leon County have gotten a flu vaccine this year. And health officials report that number drops for minorities. Claudia Blackburn is the Leon County Health Officer.
“For non-Hispanic black adults it is 15-percent. And that is mighty low in my opinion. I would like to see that much higher. We are on par with the state of Florida and the nation. So, we’re not worse than everybody else,” Blackburn says.
Blackburn says even those who have already gotten the flu this year should consider the vaccine since they are still susceptible to other strains. Beyond vaccination, officials highlight the importance of hand washing and coughing or sneezing into your elbow rather than your hand.
