By: Yvette Morrison, Pharm.D, BCPS, FASHP
Getting a flu vaccine is an essential part of protecting you and your family’s health.
Although the effectiveness of influenza vaccine varies from season to season, the public health importance of annual vaccination cannot be overemphasized. During the 2019-20 influenza season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated there were 38 million influenza-related illnesses, 18 million medical visits, 400,000 hospitalizations and 22,000 deaths. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best safeguard against its potential detrimental health impact.
The CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older. Since it takes about two weeks for your body to produce enough protective antibodies against the flu virus, it is recommended to get vaccinated in early fall before flu season begins. However, flu vaccines received in the winter months can still be beneficial since the flu season typically lasts into spring.
Most flu vaccines provide protection against four different flu viruses, two influenza A strains and two influenza B strains, and are referred to as “quadrivalent” vaccines. Since the flu virus is constantly changing, it makes it necessary to get a flu shot every year. There are many vaccine options to choose from, and as long as you receive an age-appropriate flu vaccine, the CDC doesn’t recommend a preference for any one vaccine over another.
For many years, the influenza virus has been the respiratory bug that has garnered much attention for causing respiratory illness. It is well known now that another virus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), has taken over the top spot. Both respiratory viruses are associated with a spectrum of illness that can vary from having no symptoms to having severe symptoms. It is possible to have flu and COVID-19 at the same time, and diagnostic testing can be helpful in distinguishing between the two because of the similarity in symptoms.
Flu Virus
- Fever/chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle pain/body aches
- Headache
- Loss of taste or smell
- Symptoms appear: 1-4 days
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
- Fever/chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle pain/body aches
- Headache
- Loss of taste or smell
- Symptoms appear: 2-14 days
The flu vaccine will not cause or protect against COVID-19. As influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2 simultaneously circulate during the 2020-21 flu season, it is more important than ever to get a flu vaccine and free up health care resources for continued allocation towards the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bottom line, GET VACCINATED! The more people vaccinated against the flu, the more people are protected. Flu vaccines are currently available to Oklahoma City Indian Clinic patients with active charts by appointment only.