A flu outbreak has been spreading across the state, but many North Carolinians still aren't vaccinated for the virus, according to a new survey.
A recent study from the High Point University Survey Research Center shows 40% of North Carolinians have surveyed that they have been vaccinated, while 56% surveyed that they have not yet received the shot.
Influenza-like sicknesses continue to grow across the state as flu season is now at its peak.
Twenty-four percent of those who have not received the vaccine plan to receive the shot this season, while the majority 62% do not plan on receiving the vaccine at all this year, according to the HPU poll.
"Early returns this year suggest that the vaccine is a good match for circulating flu viruses. Influenza activity is very high in North Carolina at the moment and clinics, urgent care centers, and hospital emergency departments are seeing many patients. Getting an influenza vaccine is the best preventative measure you can take," said Dr. Jordan Smith, assistant professor of clinical sciences at the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy in a news release.
North Carolinas residents who are over the age of 65 surveyed that they have received a flu shot, compared to younger residents with less than 40% being vaccinated, according to data collected in the HPU study that analyzed estimates ranging from age, gender, and race/ethnicity based on the U.S. Census.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is monitoring the spread of the virus, and other respiratory illnesses, across the state throughout the season as the numbers continue to grow.
The state has already seen two deaths stemming from the flu this season. The first was reported by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Oct. 26 when a patient in western North Carolina died of complications from the illness.
The season's second death and first pediatric patient death from the virus since February 2020, happened Nov. 2, according to the NCDHHS.
Click here to find a location to get your flu shot.