Scripps Health urges early Flu Shot before the season intensifies. Indicates that vaccination is critical during COVID-19 pandemic to reduce illness, strain on hospitals. Being vaccinated against influenza is a smart thing to do every year, but getting the flu shot this year is especially important because the illness will be circulating alongside coronavirus, which could strain health care resources across the country.
Symptoms for flu, such as fever, coughing, headache and fatigue, are very similar to those for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, and both viruses attack the respiratory system. It remains unclear how the two viruses might interact or affect overall sickness when infecting the same person. Siu Ming Geary, MD, an internal medicine physician with Scripps indicates that it is possible to get both the coronavirus and the flu at the same time; and that both can result in severe illness and complications, including hospitalization and death. While there is not a readily available vaccine for coronavirus, getting vaccinated for influenza is the best thing you can do to protect yourself from getting the flu.
For more information about how to obtain the flu vaccine this year, visit https://www.scripps.org/news_items/7050-scripps-expert-urges-early-flu-shot-before-the-season-intensifies-covid
For related posts from UCCA, visit https://www.universitycitynews.org/category/community-health/
