Three Rivers Public Health Department (3RPHD) is encouraging everyone 6 months and older to receive a flu shot because flu season is here and has arrived during a pandemic.
The flu and COVID-19 are both contagious viruses and spread in similar ways. Getting a flu shot is more important than ever this year to protect yourself, your family and the people around you from flu. “If you have never gotten a flu shot before, please do so this year we all need to do our part to help reduce the pressure on our healthcare systems that are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Terra Uhing, executive director at Three Rivers Public Health Department.
It’s especially important for people in high risk groups to get their Flu shot that includes:
• Anyone with certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and chronic lung disease.
• Pregnant women
• Young children over the age of six months
• Anyone 65 years of age and older.
• Anyone who lives with or cares for others who are at high risk of developing serious complications.
The vaccine will not protect you from COVID-19 but may keep you from getting the flu. In addition to the vaccine, continue taking COVID-19 prevention measures because they can also help prevent colds and flu: Wash your hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your arm, disinfect surfaces you touch and in public, wear masks and stay 6 feet from others. While 40% of people infected with COVID-19 have no symptoms, for those who do, flu and COVID-19 share some of the same symptoms.
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue (very tired)
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.
COVID-19 has one common symptom that differs from the flu; you may lose your sense of taste or smell. If you are sick, since some symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, you may need to be tested for flu or COVID-19 to know if you have either virus. Stay in touch with your health care provider and let them know if your symptoms get worse.
Free flu vaccines are being offered to people at 3RPHD who don’t have insurance and 3RPHD will bill insurance for those that have insurance. This year, flu shots will be given outside within the parking lot to help keep everyone safe. For more information, call 402-727-5396 and dial extension 2.
