Another reason to get the flu shot? Because the flu can look like COVID-19

People could be more susceptible to the flu this fall and winter, as COVID-related precautions last season led to a relatively mild flu season – and a local doctor said this makes the flu shot all the more important .

“Every time you are exposed to a respiratory virus, you develop an immunity that protects you against future exposures. The same goes for COVID as it is for the flu, ”Johns Hopkins said pediatric infectious disease expert Dr Aaron Milstone.

“Corn [people] weren’t exposed last year and they haven’t re-primed their immune systems to protect them for years to come, ”he said.

Previous exposure to the flu may not stop you from getting the flu, but it can help protect you against serious illness.

Exposure to the flu this season may also be more likely than last season, as people forgo pandemic precautions. Milstone said people are now more likely to take off their masks, eat indoors, go to large family gatherings, which increases the chances of catching and spreading the flu.

The ninth leading cause of death in the United States in 2019 was influenza and pneumonia, with a death rate of 15.2 per 100,000 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“This coming season, the flu will continue to disrupt people’s lives. If you get sick, the flu symptoms are very similar to the symptoms of COVID, ”Milstone said. “So this winter’s illness means: COVID test. If we can prevent illness with the flu shot, we can prevent people from having to get tested, from missing school and from work. “

COVID is unique because it can cause loss of taste and smell. However, the flu and COVID-19 can cause fever, body aches, chills, cough, diarrhea, and a runny nose.

“So just because you have a respiratory virus symptom, you shouldn’t think it’s either one or the other. You should seek testing and advice from a medical professional, ”Milstone said.

Doctors were also concerned about the current climate of hesitation over the COVID-19 vaccine, how it might translate into other vaccines and the declining desire to get the flu shot. But Milstone stressed that the vaccine is effective, important and necessary.

“The flu vaccine is great for preventing hospitalizations and death from influenza, just like the COVID vaccine is preventing hospitalizations and deaths from COVID,” he said. “So it’s very important that people get the flu shot this year to prevent disease and illness. “

It is okay to receive flu shots and COVID-19 of any kind at the same time.

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