As the respiratory virus season progresses in Texas, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is urging residents to prioritize getting a flu shot before Thanksgiving. Flu vaccines are widely available at public health clinics, doctors’ offices, and pharmacies throughout the state.
Public health officials warn that cooler weather, increased travel, and holiday gatherings contribute to higher risks of influenza transmission. The DSHS recommends that everyone aged six months and older receive a flu vaccine as soon as possible. Immunity develops about two weeks after vaccination.
“It is especially important for older adults, very young children, people with chronic health conditions and pregnant women to get protection from the flu,” said DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford, MD, MPH. “People in those higher risk groups are more likely to get seriously sick if they do get the flu, and some will inevitably need to be hospitalized and even die from their infections.”
According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), last flu season saw at least 600,000 hospitalizations and tens of thousands of deaths in the United States due to influenza. Economic studies indicate that seasonal flu costs over $87 billion annually—a figure now estimated at around $131 billion when adjusted for inflation.
Flu symptoms typically include fever, headache, body aches, sore throat, cough, fatigue, and chills; these can persist for a week or longer. Antiviral medications prescribed within 48 hours of symptom onset can reduce illness severity and duration.
The virus primarily spreads through droplets produced when infected individuals talk, sneeze or cough. Indirect transmission can also occur via contaminated surfaces. In addition to vaccination—which remains the most effective preventive measure—health officials recommend covering coughs and sneezes, frequent handwashing, and staying home while ill.
For information on where to obtain a flu shot or monitor respiratory virus trends statewide or locally in Texas, residents are encouraged to contact healthcare providers or local pharmacies.
