The time is now to get vaccinated

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Getting an influenza vaccination will be especially important this fall when flu season overlaps with the presence of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

“This year, more than ever, it will be critical that everyone is vaccinated against the flu,” said Jennifer Frank, MD, Chief Medical Officer at ThedaCare. “With the possibility of Influenza and COVID-19 being active in our communities at the same time, we need everyone to follow social distancing guidelines, wear masks, wash their hands frequently and get a flu shot.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting the flu shot in September or October.

“Getting vaccinated too early – say July or August – reduces protection against the flu later in the season, especially for older people,” she said. “September and October are good times to get vaccinated, as it takes two weeks for the vaccine to provide immunity. However, as long as the flu virus is circulating, those who haven’t been vaccinated yet can do so even into January.”

The flu is typically active between October and April each year, peaking between December through February.

ThedaCare anticipates having flu shots available at its clinics in early September.

 

Dr. Frank said there are several options for the flu vaccination this year.

“There is a standard dose flu shot, a high-dose shot for those over 65, a preservative-free shot and a nasal spray,” she explained. “Your primary care provider can advise which is best for you. When going to get a flu shot, observe the same practices you do every day for running essential errands – wear a mask, practice social distancing and wash your hands.”

It is recommended that anyone over the age of six months be vaccinated for the flu. Dr. Frank added that anyone caring for an infant younger than six months should also be vaccinated against the flu.

“Since those younger infants cannot be vaccinated, they are at risk for serious flu complications,” she said. “Everyone around them needs to be vaccinated to reduce the risk of exposing them to the flu.”

Dr. Frank stressed that it’s important to get vaccinated each year because the influenza virus is continually changing.

“Some years Influenza A is more active; other years it’s Influenza B or the H1N1 virus,” she noted. “The composition of U.S. flu vaccines is reviewed annually and updated as needed to match the circulating flu viruses.”

One important note - the flu vaccination will not protect against COVID-19.

“While many researchers are working on vaccines for COVID-19, there is not one approved as yet,” said Dr. Frank. “A number of vaccines are currently going through testing phases as required by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), with estimates that one may be available early next year.”

However, the flu vaccination has many other important benefits. It reduces the risk of getting the flu, and decreases the rate of hospitalization and death.

“The respiratory flu can be a serious illness, especially for the very young, the very old, those with chronic health conditions and those who are pregnant,” Dr. Frank said. “That’s because those groups run the highest risk of developing a complication from the illness.”

It’s also possible to get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time.

“Health experts are studying how common this might be and what that experience might be like,” she said. “The symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, making it hard to tell the difference between the diseases based on symptoms alone. Diagnostic testing can help determine whether someone is experiencing the A or B flu virus or COVID-19, which can help health care providers decide on the best program of treatment.”

Dr. Frank also denied the myth that people can get the flu from the flu shot.

“The virus in the vaccine is not live and cannot give you the flu,” she said. “Some people may run a low-grade fever and feel a little under the weather for a few days after getting the shot, but that’s not the flu; rather it is their immune system kicking into gear. “In addition, the flu shot doesn’t protect against colds, so people will still be susceptible to getting colds, which might cause them to think they have the flu.”

Overall, Dr. Frank emphasized this is not the year to skip the flu shot.

“We all need to be very proactive about staying as healthy as possible to ward off the flu and COVID-19, and prevent complications from either disease,” she said. “That means eating healthy, getting good exercise and sufficient sleep, and practicing good self-care to stay mentally healthy. This is a challenging year. We all need to take extra steps to be healthy and to protect the health of those around us. Getting a flu shot should be an important part of our health plan.”

 

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