“The state has cultured multiple specimens of flu from sick folks and is reporting N3N2, which is the strain of influenza A. Although, there haven’t been any reports yet of how well it matches the vaccine, the anticipation is that this strain of flu is well matched with it,” says Dr. Ward Robinson, Medical Director of the Guilford County Department of Public Health.

Robinson says many of the people who have gotten sick from the influenza virus, didn’t get vaccinated.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 36,000 people die each year from the flu. The CDC says about 46 percent of North Carolinians were immunized against flu last year and nine people died in the state.

Last week, state health officials confirmed two adults in Forsyth County died from influenza. The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.

Older people, young children, pregnant women and those with certain chronic health conditions are at higher risk. Robinson says he recommends a flu vaccine for anyone older than 6 months.

“This is a selfless act. We need to stop thinking of the vaccine as something that protects us and more as something we do to protect our loved ones and the people around us. The individuals who recently tragically died from influenza got it from someone else,” says Robinson.

Most health-insurance plans cover a flu vaccine. Currently, the Forsyth County Health Department is offering the flu vaccine for free.

Robinson says he recommends people get vaccinated as soon as possible, since it could take a few weeks after getting it for the immunity to kick in.