Before the flu season got into full swing in West Virginia there were warnings: This could be a tough one.

As it turns out, the predictions were accurate. Not only has flu season arrived earlier than in the previous six years, it is causing more people to seek medical attention.

“Patients seeking out-patient care for flu-like symptoms in West Virginia is at 3.92%, which indicates an onset of flu season here,” Shannon McBee, state epidemiologist with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Public Health, told WV MetroNews.

McBee said such an early onset means “we’re in for a rough season, I think.”

Among the reasons for the sharp increase in cases is that some people are not only reluctant to get an influenza vaccine this year, but likely skipped the last couple of years during the COVID-19 pandemic. McBee called that an “immunity gap.”

According to the DHHR, 4.6% of all emergency department visits and urgent care visits in West Virginia last week had influenza listed as a diagnosis.

“Bed capacity is around 80% for both pediatric and adults statewide,” McBee told MetroNews. “We do have several hospitals where their pediatric beds are at capacity or slightly over capacity by 1-3 beds, which means this can create delays for families waiting for a family member to be admitted or they may have to get transferred to another hospital where there is another bed available.”

There is something we can do. As is the case with COVID-19, a vaccine against the flu can not only protect against infection, but protect from the most severe outcomes of the virus. And it can help us stem the spread to those who are most vulnerable.

We are less than two weeks away from Thanksgiving, folks. Do what you can now to protect yourself and your loves ones. Get the flu shot.