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PHOENIX (Sept. 25, 2018) – Last year’s flu season was one of the deadliest on record and this year people are being urged to get their flu shorts early.

In preparing for this year’s flu season, Banner Health infection-prevention experts look to Australia for clues on what could happen in the U.S., says Joan Ivaska, senior director for Infection Prevention at Banner Health. Ivaska oversees Banner's flu-preparation efforts for our operations in six states.

B-roll video and audio of Ivaska talking about this year’s flu season and the need for a flu shot

“We do look to the Southern Hemisphere to see what their flu season has been since they are six months ahead of us,’’ Ivaska said.

So far this year, the flu season has been mild in Australia, Ivaska says. It could be that this year’s flu bug could be less severe than last year’s. Another important factor is that there were record-breaking numbers of Australians who got the vaccine this year, she said.

In the b-roll, Ivaska also discusses why flu shots remain the most important protection against getting sick.

Also available: Flu-b-roll – we have 30-40 seconds showing a person getting flu shot, provider preparing flu shot in clinical background.