Flu Vaccine

Health officials say getting a flu shot this year is a lot more important in the year of the pandemic.

You don't want to get both.

Bank.

Health professionals in hamilton county are encouraging everyone to get their flu shots.

With flu season approaching and the country still dealing with coronavirus, news 12's winston reed explains why vaccines this year, may be more important than ever.

Leaders at the hamilton county health department and c-h-i memorial say because covid-19 and flu symptoms are so similar getting a flu shot this year can can help you determine if you have covid-19.

"you've got your fever, shortness of breath, headache, running/stuffy nose -the biggest difference is still that loss of taste or loss of smell when you're looking at covid."

"any illness we can prevent will cause fewer cases in which we have to try to figure out what's going on."

Sharon goforth of the hamilton county health department says it's certainly possible to contract both viruses.

"obviously you don't want that to happen.

It's an automatic double whammy on your system especially if you're in one of our high risk groups."

Dr. mark anderson of chi memorial says those high risk groups include older adults and people with chronic diseases.

"unfortunately, those people who need it the most tend to respond least well to the vaccine.

We still recommend vaccines for those people but we have started giving it that are most likely to transmit influenze to those vulnerable.

The two big groups are children and health care providers."

Social distancing practices and masks can protect you from both covid and the flu according to the health department.

"i am hopeful that we are going see a decrease in both of those simply because we are starting to see more people taking those precautions."

C-h-i memorial requires a flu vaccine for every staff member.

You can reach out to your health care provider or the health department to get your flu vaccine this year.

Reporting in hamilton county winston reed news