EndNotes

Wed., Oct. 19, 2011

CDC’s flu forecast

Flu kills folks every year. From 3,000 in a "good" year to nearly 50,000 in a really bad year.

Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its FluView -- a look at the season so far and the season ahead.

Some interesting highlights:

Flu activity so far is low.

There's plenty of vaccine this year. So no shortages expected.

And the flu vaccination, unlike in some years past, is well matched with the flu viruses circulating right now.

One more interesting detail: It takes about two weeks after a flu shot for the body's immune response to fully kick in.

Posted Oct. 19, 2011, 2:36 p.m.

Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.