At Tom of P-Town Health, we believe in proactive health planning. With the active dismantling of the public health infrastructure in the U.S., it is becoming increasingly clear that individuals will need to take on some of the disease prevention and preparedness responsibilities that government agencies have historically managed. Just as we recently recommended checking your measles titers to ensure immunity, we now turn our attention to another looming threat: influenza.
Why You Should Be Concerned About Influenza Right Now
Every year, the flu presents significant public health challenges, but 2025 brings additional risks that demand our attention. Currently, we are facing an alarming convergence of factors that could set the stage for a severe outbreak:
High Levels of Avian Influenza: Bird flu (H5N1) continues to circulate at unprecedented levels in bird populations globally, with increasing instances of mammalian transmission, a potential indicator of future human adaptation.
Seasonal Human Flu Circulating Widely: The human influenza virus is spreading at typical seasonal rates, providing opportunities for genetic mixing (reassortment) between human and avian flu strains—a known pathway for the emergence of a pandemic flu.
Breakdown of Flu Vaccine Planning: The U.S. team responsible for coordinating next year’s flu vaccine formulation has been dismissed, leaving gaps in the preparation of an effective vaccine. This could result in a 2025 flu vaccine that is less effective or, in the worst-case scenario, completely mismatched to the circulating strains.
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself
Given these increased risks, Tom of P-Town Health is urging patients to take preventive steps now. Specifically, we recommend:
Stockpiling Antiviral Medications: Request a prescription for Tamiflu (oseltamivir) or another antiviral medication now. These drugs work best when taken early in the course of flu symptoms and can be life-saving during a severe outbreak. Having them on hand ensures you won’t face shortages in a crisis.
Staying Up to Date on Vaccinations: While the flu vaccine may be less effective next year, some protection is still better than none. If avian influenza mutates to become more transmissible in humans, a pre-existing immune response—even a partial one—could help mitigate severity.
Monitoring for Emerging Threats: Stay informed about avian influenza developments. If cases begin appearing in humans in a sustained pattern, additional precautions (such as masking and limiting exposure to live poultry markets or bird-heavy environments) may become necessary.
Building a Personal Pandemic Plan: Take stock of your household’s ability to respond to an outbreak. Do you have enough supplies to isolate safely at home for a week or more? Do you know where to seek medical care if symptoms become severe? Thinking through these questions now can save lives later.
Public health preparedness shouldn’t be an individual responsibility, but with the current state of governmental neglect, it falls to us to take action. Tom of P-Town Health will continue to provide updates and recommendations to help you stay ahead of emerging threats. In the meantime, get your Tamiflu prescription, stay informed, and prepare now—because when the next pandemic emerges, being ready will make all the difference.
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