As we transition into fall, we'll not only be fighting one big respiratory illness, but two. While coronavirus and the flu may have similar symptoms, transmissions, and contagion periods, the difference is, we have a vaccine in our fight against the flu. Getting your flu shot can help protect yourself and the people around you from the flu, as well as reduce the strain on healthcare systems responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Here's what else you need to know about the flu vaccine this year.
Not only will getting a flu shot help to prevent you from becoming sick, it will also prevent high hospitalization numbers that make it difficult on the healthcare system, essential workers and supplies that are already strained during the current pandemic.
Health experts are still studying how common this can be, but why not lower your chances of it happening? Reduce your risk for the flu so that you're not stuck with the severity of having both illnesses at once.
The CDC recommends people get a flu vaccine no later than the end of October, but encourages people to get vaccinated later, rather than not at all. It's important to be vaccinated before the flu begins spreading locally, keeping in mind that it takes a few weeks for the vaccine to become fully protective.
These exceptions are:
Those who especially should get a vaccine include:
According to the CDC, hundreds of millions of Americans have safely received the flu vaccine over the past 50 years. There are common side effects of the flu shot that may persist and present like the flu, but as Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt Medical Center, stated, "that's just your body working on the vaccine and your immune response responding to the vaccine...it's a small price to pay to keep you out of the emergency room."
In rare cases where an individual gets the flu after vaccination, typically they were already infected with the virus and symptoms had not presented yet. These are the instances where it may appear that the flu shot caused the flu, when in reality; it was timing or a pre-existing weakened immune system.
Vaccination should be postponed for people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, regardless of whether they have symptoms, until they have met the criteria to discontinue their isolation.
However, flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death, which is important for conserving resources during the pandemic.
The best place to get a flu shot is wherever is easiest and most convenient for you. Many local pharmacies offer walk-in availability for flu shots, including the high-dose varieties for those 65 years of age and older. Find a location near you by clicking here, or ask your TargetCare provider how to make an appointment today.
In a time during which we feel a lot is out of our control, let's focus on what we can control- which includes getting a flu shot. We all have a social responsibility to protect ourselves and others from both COVID-19 and the flu, so it's important to do your part and get vaccinated.