Lauren Bishop/CDC

As flu season begins in Arizona, cases of influenza are far below the state’s five-year average. The Arizona Department of Health Services reported just 52 flu cases statewide last week, compared to the seasonal average of 651.

DHS Director Dr. Cara Christ partially attributes the success to the department’s influenza vaccination campaign.

“We knew that with COVID-19 and influenza both circulating in the community, that would really stress our hospitals,” Christ said. “So, this year, we implemented a statewide influenza vaccination campaign.”

Christ also cited efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, as the same strategies are used to combat influenza. Christ says right now is the perfect time to get vaccinated for influenza, so that antibodies are present from January to March, the peak flu season in the state.

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