Flu Shots and the Coronavirus

Getting a flu shot every year is one simple way you can protect your health and the health of your family. Flu shots are crucial now than ever before for two very important reasons. First, younger children and older adults are at-risk populations for being admitted to the hospital with the flu. With the potential for the coronavirus spread increasing into the winter months, it’s very important to keep our hospital beds open and available – ensuring we can provide the care necessary for people with COVID-19. 

Second, influenza and COVID-19 can be indistinguishable clinically – including fevers, chills, sore throat, cough, and shortness of breath. They are not the prevailing symptoms in a small subset of patients (loss of taste and smell), but many will experience them. Getting the flu vaccine is reduces the number of people that need to seek medical care, meaning healthcare professionals can conserve PPE, avoid taking COVID swabs on people who have the flu, and save them for people who really need it.