With the arrival of fall, the weather is getting cooler, the days are getting short, and it’s time for your annual flu shot.
Since the outbreak of the COIVD -19 pandemic, the presence of seasonal flu, caused by the influenza virus, has been lower than normal, as people did not go out as much, wore masks, and practiced social distancing.
But as life returns to normal, so does the flu season, and so health experts are recommending you get the shot, the sooner the better. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends influenza vaccination of all individuals six months of age and older, preferably by the end of October.
Here are five things to keep in mind about the flu vaccine from Waleed Javaid, MD, Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and an expert on infectious disease.
Getting the flu shot is especially important this year.
For the last two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has tended to overshadow the flu, and the incidence of flu was lower than normal. But that’s expected to change. Experts have been tracking the flu season in the Southern Hemisphere, where winter in places like South America and Australia officially ends in September, and there has been a significant increase in flu activity back to normal levels. They expect the same pattern to occur in the United States and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere. Health care providers understand that some may have become wary of another vaccine when the pandemic appears to be winding down. But now is not the time to let down your guard.
You can get the flu vaccine at the same time you get a COVID-19 vaccine.
The CDC says you can get both of these shots at the same time, which is especially convenient. Of course, it’s always best to discuss your personal circumstances with your primary care provider. And you may decide to space them out by a few weeks, which may help reduced potential side effects, such as fatigue, headache, and muscle ache. It’s also okay for children to get both shots at the same time.
The seasonal flu is serious business.
Some may dismiss the seasonal flu as little different from the common cold. In fact, it is much more severe and it is actually more like COVID-19 in severity than the common cold. In addition, many are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications, including those 65 and older; those with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease; those who are pregnant; and children younger than five. So you may expose others you are in contact with. You can still get the flu even if you are vaccinated. But the vaccine is very effective at reducing hospitalizations and deaths due to the seasonal flu.
Earlier is best, but any time is good.
Experts recommend getting vaccinated by the end of October. This will provide protection during peak of flu season in December and January. Vaccination later can still provide protection, but it takes about two weeks after vaccination for the vaccine to be effective. Something new this year: The CDC recommends that those over age 65 get a higher dose version of the vaccine.
The symptoms for the flu and for COVID-19 are very similar.
It’s very hard to distinguish between the two conditions without an actual test. The symptoms for both are very similar, including fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. Bottom line: If you are feeling these symptoms, stay home. If they worsen, call your health care provider.