How dangerous is the flu? 

The flu (influenza) is a seasonal upper airway and lung infection that causes fever and a cough or sore throat. It can be a potentially serious disease, leading to hospitalization and sometimes even death. In fact, every year about 2,000 New Yorkers die from seasonal flu and pneumonia (which can develop from flu-related complications).

Why should I get the flu vaccine?

Vaccination against the flu can reduce flu illnesses, provider visits, missed days of work and school due to flu symptoms, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations and deaths. Getting the flu vaccine is more important than ever this year, as we want to conserve our community healthcare resources for the potential resurgence of COVID-19.

Who should get the flu vaccine?

Can I get the flu from the flu vaccine?

 

Can I still get seasonal flu even though I got a flu shot this year?

 

Does the flu vaccine prevent against COVID-19?

 

How do I know if what I have is the flu, a cold, or COVID-19?

 

When can I get a flu shot?

I always recommend that everyone ages six months or older, especially those at high risk for flu complications, get vaccinated. Click here to learn if you fall under the category of high risk. 

I get this question a lot. The answer is no. Flu vaccines do not cause you to get the flu. Some people will report having mild side effects after they get the flu shot, such as soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling at the injection site. Sometimes, you might get a low-grade fever, headache or muscle aches, but that usually only lasts 1-2 days.

 

Unfortunately the answer to this is yes. Though your chances of getting the flu are drastically decreased by getting the flu shot, there are a number of reasons why you might still get the flu:

  1. You could have been exposed to a flu virus shortly before or during the two week period after you had your flu shot.

  2. There are many different flu viruses that spread and cause illness among people. You may have been exposed to a flu virus that is different from the viruses that the vaccine is designed to protect against. 

  3. Sometimes the flu vaccine varies in how well it works and some people will still get sick if they are exposed to the flu virus. Keep in mind however, the vaccine can help reduce the severity of your illness from the flu should you get sick.

There is no evidence that getting a flu vaccine increases or decreases your risk of getting COVID-19. But it will help decrease the risk of you and your family getting sick from Influenza and needing flu-related medical care. This will not only help you and your family stay healthy, but it will also reduce the strain on our healthcare systems as they work to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. They can have similar symptoms, such as a cough, sore throat, fatigue, fever, headache, muscle/body aches and nasal congestion or a runny nose. If you start to feel sick, the best thing to do is call your healthcare provider for guidance. They may recommend isolation and some simple treatments that you can do at home, such as resting, taking Acetaminophen or drinking fluids. They may also recommend you visit a COVID-19 center for diagnostic testing. This can help determine if you have a simple cold, the flu or COVID-19.

The flu season tends to begin in late fall/early winter, and it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu. Now is actually the best time to get the flu shot, before Influenza begins spreading in your community.

CCHP’s flu vaccine supply has arrived and  our medical staff are ready to administer flu vaccines. Just click here to schedule a time to get your flu shot.