Getting a flu shot has never been more critical than right now. With new COVID-19 cases every day, it is more important than ever to protect yourself, your family and your community from the flu.
This season, getting a flu vaccine has the added benefit of reducing the overall burden on the health care system and saving medical resources for care of COVID-19 patients in Oklahoma. What's the best way to protect yourself? Get a flu shot, every year.
Visit the INTEGRIS COVID-19 Resource Center to learn more.
People 65 years and older and younger children are at high risk of severe complications from the flu. Anyone with a weakened immune system or chronic health conditions such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes or chronic kidney disease is also at high risk. Here is a list of higher risk groups:
Those suffering from chronic and serious conditions:
No. There is a vaccine to protect against flu but there is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus.
There are multiple FDA-licensed flu vaccines produced annually to protect against the 3 or 4 flu viruses that scientists anticipate will circulate each year.
Currently there is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. Vaccine developers and other researchers and manufacturers are expediting the development of a vaccine to prevent COVID-19.
*Source: CDC
An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death in children. Proper hand hygiene and wearing a mask, just like we're doing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, are both critical in avoiding contracting the flu.
Getting the flu vaccine doesn’t guarantee you won’t get the flu, but it can reduce the symptoms and lower the risk of complications if you do become ill.
