Flu Vaccine 2020 and COVID-19 are on a collision course. No wonder they are headline news this week. Medical experts are gearing up for a tough fall season fight. The coming months will involve combatting two infections at once. COVID-19 continues its daunting assault on America. And soon we will be fighting the flu at the same time.
We are Entering a Season of Double Trouble: A Battle with Two Mean, Lung-Infecting Viruses!
Director Robert R. Redfield said last Thursday that this fall, nothing is more important than embracing the flu vaccine…” He added, “This is a critical year for us to try to take flu as much off the table as we can.”
Here at FLASS, we whole-heartedly agree. We are gearing up to make Florida flu-free, one patient at a time. You may remember that in January 2019, we reported that approximately 7 million people in the U.S. were reported to have influenza.
Flu Vaccine 2020: Our First Line of Defense against Flu
Bombs of Flu Vaccine 2020 are on Target to Wipe Out Flu. Add Flu Shots to Your To-Do List.
A legion of Americans already agree. They are already calling about the availability of the flu vaccine. Many have already set appointments to get vaccinated. The way we see it, at least we have a mighty weapon against one of the two great infections.
Thus, Dr. Fauci, many other medical experts, and your own Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists are urging you to add one more special task to your fall health routine. In addition to washing hands, social distancing, and wearing your masks, please take your Flu Vaccine 2020.
Even if you still catch the flu 2020, “You could at least blunt the effect of one of those two potential respiratory infections,” he stated.
Why You Do Not Want Severe Cases of the Flu during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Other than the obvious, there is a very good reason you do not want to endure a severe case of the flu this season.
You see, as a community, we should not want to see the flu overtake beds, health-care workers, and hospital resources. We all know that those hospital same resources might be life-saving necessities for COVID-19 victims. Let us not forget that COVID-19 has taken the lives of almost 180,000 people in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins data.
Can Florida be Flu-Free during the Pandemic?
The jury is out concerning how COVID-19 will affect the flu. We are hoping, of course, that mask-wearing, social distancing, and the hand-washing regime are effective against flu as well as against COVID-19. But the experts are loathed to make a prediction about how badly we will be hit with the various strains of flu 2020. Even the experts are worried about how the two infections will interact.
2020 is the Most Important Year Yet For Getting Your Flu Shot.
They are expecting flu to hit in September or October and continue at least through April.
“Even before COVID, what we say about the flu is that it’s predictably unpredictable,” Dr. Rehm explained.
And he added, “There are some years that it’s a light year and some years that it’s horrible.” Again, it’s certain that the Flu Vaccine 2020 will be one of the most important flu shots you will ever take.
Yes. “Flu shots are vital.” So, let’s use this blog and the next one to look at more facts behind the Who, What, When, and Where questions about Flu Vaccine 2020 and COVID-19.
Question One: Who Should get Flu Vaccine 2020?
According to the CDC, there is no doubt he everyone six months and older should get the flu vaccine every year. For example, state officials announced Wednesday the flu vaccine is required this year for all Massachusetts school students enrolled in childcare, preschool, K-12, and post-secondary institutions. We suspect other school districts across the country will follow suit.
Dr. Larry Madoff is the medical director of the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. He said, “It is more important now than ever to get a flu vaccine because flu symptoms are very similar to those of COVID-19…” And he added, “…Preventing the flu will save lives and preserve health care resources…”
Question Two: When should I get my flu shot?
Dr. Susan Rehm, the vice-chair at the Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Infectious Diseases, declares that it is “important for patients to get the influenza vaccine as soon as possible.” However, other experts do not agree.
You see, it takes 2 weeks to develop antibodies after you get the flu vaccine 2020. Thus, you should wait a little while before taking it so your antibodies will be in peak condition as the flu hits its strongest. That means you might want to wait until “late September or early October so protection can last throughout the flu season.
This typically ends around March or April. The vaccine lasts about six months.
By the way, did you know CVS stores already have the flu vaccine in stock? Additionally, Walgreens will have it by Monday. Therefore, you have time to make it a planned priority to get your family there or to your doctor or pharmacy–or us and get your shots. You’ll be glad you did.
Recommendations from FLASS And the CDC
It Won’t Hurt Much and It Protects You.
So, here are the FLASS recommendations:
- Older and high-risk people can take Flu Vaccine 2020 a little later so they will be fully protected at the height of the season. Then, they can face the season at their healthiest.
- Younger people can take it right away.
- We are pushing everyone to have their flu vaccine shots by October’s end.
- If you miss out on getting your flu shots, and suddenly, October 2020 happens, take it anyway. Getting it late is better than not getting it at all.
Three Important COVID-19 vs. Flu Vaccine Points to Ponder
At this point, we must warn you that there is more information about flu and COVID-19 coming in Part 2 of this article. We’ll discuss this in our next blog. Here are 3 special points to ponder, as you consider when and where to get your flu vaccine 2020.
- First, be aware, a 2018 study found the flu vaccine lowers the risk of severe illness. In fact, the risk is reduced of being admitted to an ICU with flu by 82%, according to the CDC.
- Secondly, the flu vaccine specifically fights the flu. It will not help immunize you against COVID-19. All experts are in agreement on that.
Last but not least, we do not mean to scare you, but the flu brings chilling facts. “People perhaps forget that influenza is something that we see every year,” Dr. Rehm said. “Tens of thousands of people die of influenza every year, including people who are very healthy.
Wipe Out Influenza. Take Your Flu Shot. Protect Your Health.
Additionally, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized every year.”
In conclusion, the doctors and staff of FLASS add their prayers to those of thousands of other medical professionals who pray and work for an effective vaccine for the coronavirus. We all hope for the fast discovery of an effective vaccine for COVID-19.
In fact, we hope it will soon become as common as the vaccine for flu 2020.