As flu season peaks in N.J. and Pa., doctors still recommend getting vaccinated

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the flu season may have peaked, it’s still making a lot of people sick in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

New Jersey state epidemiologist Dr. Tina Tan said there are high levels of flu, but there are some positive signs.

“We are starting to see that some of our areas that we’re measuring are starting to decrease, such as emergency department admissions and emergency department visits that are associated with influenza-like illness,” she said.

However, Tan said influenza type B cases are increasing in the state, although it is considered to be less severe than the H3N2 strain of the type A virus.

“We’re still seeing flu circulate right now and we’re starting to see flu type B pick up a little bit,” she said. “It’s really important that if you haven’t gotten your flu vaccine, to make sure that you still get it. Against [type] B, it’s considered to be more effective than some of the other components.”

Tan said it’s hard to predict just how long the flu will continue to spread, but it’s usually around until April or May.