ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE)— Though flu season has had a relatively quiet start in northeast Indiana, Hoosiers should expect to see case numbers rise significantly heading into 2025. "It's actually just peaking its head around the corner," Allen County Health Commissioner, Dr. Thomas Gutwein said in regards to influenza cases. Gutwein said that the county is not at high levels right now. Because of that, it's a good time to get a flu shot. He said that December is not too late to get one as there's still about three months of flu season left. Huntington County school board president steps down; New principal named for Huntington North HS According to Gutwein, the efficacy of this year's vaccine is about 37-38%, which is typical. That doesn't mean the shot will completely protect you from all influenza viruses. But, it will help protect you and will likely reduce the severity of symptoms. "The best thing we can do as a community is to decrease decrease the severity of the illness across the community," Gutwein said. "If we can decrease the total number of people that get the flu this year, then that's a win. And that's where we want to go." As of Tuesday, the Indiana Department of Health said the state had "moderate" flu activity. According to their dashboard, the rate of patients presenting influenza-like illness (ILI) at emergency departments in Allen County was 2.9%. The highest rate in northeast Indiana was Adams County at 4.4%. The lowest was Whitley County at 0.6%. The percent ILI statewide was 2.7%. Last season at this time the rate was 3.0%. Gutwein said that as of mid-Dec., COVID levels in Allen County were relatively low, especially after a spike that he said occurred in August. He still suggested to consider getting a yearly COVID vaccine. There are still two main benefits to getting a COVID vaccine, according to him. "One, we do know it decreases the severity of the illness," Gutwein said. "But it also decreases the long COVID, which are the long term symptoms where people complain of a brain fog or excess fatigue." Gutwein said that there has been a noticeable increase in RSV cases in children county-wide. He stressed that once RSV is contracted, there's not great available medication to mitigate symptoms. RSV treatment is more supportive. So, he recommended that children under 2, adults over 60, and pregnant women to get the RSV vaccine, as that is a preventative care option.