Because of COVID-19, you may want to think about the influenza (flu) virus a little differently this year. It’s more important than ever to avoid catching the flu. And, if 2020 turns out to be a bad year for flu cases, the health care system could become overwhelmed, since hospitals are already full of respiratory patients due to COVID-19.
Everyone needs to try to stay healthy during this time. Here are some things to think about concerning the flu and the flu vaccine in 2020.
The flu and COVID-19 are both going to be around this fall and winter.
The two conditions have similar basic symptoms — fever, muscle aches, cough and congestion. One symptom, though — loss of sense of taste and smell — is commonly present in COVID-19, but not in cases of the flu. You can have both the flu and COVID-19, according to the CDC. Doctors and scientists still aren’t sure what these cases look like, so it’s important to do what you can to avoid contracting the flu.
Also, high-risk individuals are more likely to have severe cases of both the flu and COVID-19, so it’s especially important for them and their caregivers to get a flu shot this year.
You should get a flu shot by the end of October, according to the CDC.
This is no earlier than traditional CDC recommendations. Flu season hasn’t fully started yet, and because the flu shot loses its effectiveness as time passes, try to make sure you time your flu shot right. The CDC recommends sometime in late September through late October.
If you have already had a flu shot this year, you may need to get another one later in the season. Talk to your doctor about when that should happen.
Worried about getting a flu shot at a doctor’s office this year? There are other sources.
Even if COVID-19 is spreading in your area, the CDC says you should still get a flu shot as you normally would. But you should wear a mask and keep a social distance of 6 feet at the doctor’s office. You may also want to find out which pharmacies and clinics are giving flu shots this year.
For more information about the flu and a vaccine finder for flu shot locations in your area, visit qualchoice.com/flu.
Dr. Lubna Maruf, M.D., is the medical director at QualChoice Health Insurance in Little Rock.