In a bid to bolster public confidence in vaccinations, Governor Josh Stein and NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai rolled up their sleeves, and made a public display of getting their annual flu shots. The vaccinations took place at a Walgreens in Raleigh, North Carolina, a scene reminiscent of ordinary life before pandemics made such acts newsworthy. The pair emphasized the importance of protecting oneself against the seasonal flu, especially in the light of ongoing COVID-19 concerns and the rise of RSV cases.
As autumn leaves begin their colorful dance to the ground, health officials are sounding the alarm for the public to prepare their defenses against respiratory viruses. With a flu shot in one arm and possibly another vaccine in the other, “October is a great time to get vaccinated to have the strongest protection during peak respiratory virus season through winter,” according to the NCDHHS. While Gov. Stein and Secretary Sangvai’s visit to the pharmacy was a planned photo op, it underscores a serious campaign aimed at keeping hospitals from being overwhelmed as they were in previous virus surges…