With COVID-19 statistics at the forefront, it can be easy to forget just how dangerous the flu really is. Flu viruses spread quickly throughout communities; during the 2018-2019 flu season, there were 35.5 million illnesses, 490,600 hospitalizations and 34,200 deaths due to the flu. Vaccinations protect you and your loved ones. The more people who are vaccinated, the less number of flu cases in our hospitals, allowing doctors and nurses to focus on helping the COVID-19 patients that come in.
“Getting a flu vaccine is an essential part of protecting your health and your family’s health every year,” states the CDC website, “the best way to reduce your risk of flu illness and its potentially serious complications is for everyone 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine each year. By getting a flu vaccine, you may also be protecting people around you who are more vulnerable to serious flu complications.”
The CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October. This includes everyone six months and older (with very rare exceptions). If you’re not sure if you should get a flu shot, read the CDC’s article “Who should and who should NOT get a Flu vaccine“.
Seasonal Flu & COVID-19
You can get the flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccination at the same time, in the same visit. If you have concerns about getting both vaccines at the same time, speak with a health care provider to set up a schedule that works for you.
If you haven’t received the COVID-19 vaccination, the CDC advises that you get it now, so that you can get the flu shot before the end of October. This is important because, according to the CDC, “people can be infected with flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 at the same time. Getting a flu vaccine is the best protection against flu and its potentially serious complications, and getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the best protection against COVID-19.”
Flu Vaccine Types
There are several different types of flu vaccines available for the 2021-2022 flu season. The CDC recommends getting a quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccines, recombinant influenza vaccine, or a live attenuated influenza vaccine. The first two types are available as shots, while the third is available to receive intranasally. You will find the full details on the different flu vaccines available in the CDC’s article “Key Facts about Seasonal Flu Vaccine“.
If you need help finding a flu vaccine provider or location, Care is There can help!
If You Live In Our Service Area
If you live in our service area of Charlottesville, Virginia and the surrounding counties and the Shenandoah Valley (Harrisonburg, Staunton, etc.) we can:
- Schedule meetings with your primary care physician
- Set up a vaccination appointment
- Schedule follow-up appointments
- Handle logistics for picking up, filling out and returning paperwork
No Matter Where You Live
If you don’t live in our service area, we can teach you to do it yourself!
We offer a number of online courses for long distance caregivers, which you can browse at this link. You may be especially interested in our course “7 Pro Tips for Long Distance Caregivers.” The course outlines how you can help your loved one stay safe and life comfortably, even from a distance.
If you would like personal coaching about your loved ones’ situation, click here.
What Else Would You Like Help With?
We offer: