GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) -- Case rates for influenza are on the rise in Michigan. Notably, the vaccination rate is down.
Dr. Andrew Jameson, the Regional Division Head for Specialty Medicine and an infectious disease doctor with Trinity Health, says he is already treating patients with serious complications.
"This is not something to downplay. It's not something you want. Actually, there are people in the ICU right now that I saw this morning that had what we think was influenza and then they got a really bad bacterial pneumonia," Jameson told News 8.
Data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services shows flu vaccination rates are down just over 17% from last year. Approximately 2.4 million Michiganders have received their flu shot this year, short of the MDHHS goal of 4 million.
"From an infectious disease perspective it's discouraging because that just increases the chance someone is gonna get more severely ill," Jameson said. "There's a chance that we're gonna see them in the hospital more and there's also a chance they're gonna transmit to family and friends easier."
Jameson says a variety of factors may be contributing to the drop.
"I think we are all experiencing that COVID hangover still. It's harder and harder to talk about vaccines with people. We're just sick of hearing about respiratory viruses. But the reality is they're still here and you don't realize it's gonna hurt until it really does. So, I would just encourage people that it's not too late," Jameson said.
If you get the flu and had your flu shot, doctors say it still provides some level of protection.
"You have symptoms less, they're not as severe, you don't get hospitalized as much and you don't spread it as much to family members," Jameson said.
Every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other government and private entities work together to develop a vaccine mix based on which flu strains they expect to dominate the winter. Jameson says it is still too early to see how accurate or effective this year's shot will be.
"We call that the viral efficacy. That's basically saying, you know, if you got the vaccine how likely are you to get influenza. We won't know that until the end of the season," Jameson said.
As people gather for the holidays, doctors are reminding them to take precautions if they feel a little sick.
"Just put on a mask and still see family," Jameson said. "I don't think we have to completely ruin Christmas, but just be considerate of those around you."