Doctors in Santa Barbara predict early Flu season this year

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - It’s getting busy at cottage hospital and at Sansum clinic.
"We’re seeing it a little bit earlier yes then we are used to ... they’re coming earlier this year," said director of operations Kim Hurley of Sansum Clinic.

It’s not 100 percent clear why this year’s flu season started early.

But Dr. Ed Cotner of Cottage Hospital said the disease tends to travel across the globe. 

"So we prepare for it based on what we’re seeing sort of in East Asia at this time of year ... so we’re just having a little earlier over there so it’s happening a little earlier over here as well," said Cotner.

While people are still talking about Covid, Cotner said the flu can also be a deadly disease.

"It’s just as important as getting your COVID vaccine so I think it’s important to protect yourself against what looks like … is going to be a pretty busy flu season," said Cotner.

Over at Sansum Clinic, the number of patients coming in for vaccines is rising quickly. 

"Fridays are pretty busy we are seeing about 150 to 200 patients a day on those days … but it’s good. We know people are getting vaccinated and we know they’d key to success," said Hurley.

The flu vaccine is available throughout Santa Barbara County,

Here in Santa Barbara, patients of Sansum Clinic can get information on scheduling flu shots at flushots.sansumclinic.org.