The Ville Platte Rotary Club today (Tuesday) heard from Shane Darbonne, director of the Ville Platte Wellness Center as their guest speaker. He spoke on the importance of getting a flu shot.
Darbonne said the United States is facing one of the deadliest flu strains ever. Most flu shots are effective against four strains of the virus. The “A” strain is the one that has been deadly especially with young children.
The injectable flu shot is much more effective than the nasal spray. The shots should be taken annually for everyone including pregnant women and children as young as 6 months old. The flu shots have shown to be 36-40 percent effective against most strains of the flu. It takes about two weeks to become effective.
This year, cases of the flu began as early as August. The flu shots remain effective for about six months.
Darbonne urged employers to have their staff get their flu shots and to wash your hands often.
He was the special guest of Rotarian Ronnie Landreneau.