The flu season this year has already started spreading across the United States, according to data from the country’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There have been at least 880,000 cases of flu, nearly 7,000 hospitalizations, and tragically, 360 flu-related deaths at the beginning of this fall, including one pediatric death. Since 2009, during the peak of the H1N1 swine flu pandemic, there haven’t been so many flu cases this early in the season.
Despite these numbers, many people wonder if the flu is really such a serious illness. What is the benefit of the vaccine? Can some people still catch the flu even if they are vaccinated? If you get the Covid vaccine, do you still need the flu vaccine?
The first answer is yes, the flu is considered a serious illness. The CDC estimates that the flu has resulted in between 9 million and 41 million illnesses, 140,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations, and 12,000 to 52,000 deaths annually in the U.S. between 2010 and 2020.
The symptoms of the flu include fever, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, cough, and runny nose. Many people recover in a few days, but some may still feel ill for 10 days to two weeks after the onset of symptoms. Some will develop complications, including sinusitis and ear infections, pneumonia, and inflammation of the brain.
Even generally healthy people can become very ill due to the flu. However, those particularly susceptible to severe consequences include people aged 65 and older, children under 2 years old, pregnant women, and people with underlying medical conditions.
So is it worth getting the vaccine?
The flu vaccine is important for two reasons. First, it reduces your chance of severe illness—that is, being hospitalized or dying. Second, it can also reduce the likelihood of you getting sick from the flu.
Data released by the CDC in its latest study on the subject shows that the flu vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalization by about 50%. A 2018 study found that vaccinated individuals were 59% less likely to be admitted to the ICU due to the flu compared to those who had not been vaccinated.
In other words, it’s very similar to what you’ve heard about the Covid-19 vaccine. So, if you’ve already received the Covid-19 vaccine, do you still need the flu vaccine?
Without a doubt! Different vaccines target different viruses. The Covid vaccine helps protect against Covid but does not protect against the flu, and vice versa. You can receive the Covid vaccine (or the booster) at the same time you receive the flu vaccine.
Better late than never! Many people still haven’t gotten the flu vaccine, and others wait until the end of flu season to get vaccinated. This may not be a good idea. It is clear that this flu season is starting earlier than usual. It takes about two weeks for a person’s body to achieve optimal immune protection after vaccination.
So, if you haven’t gotten the flu vaccine yet, the best time to get it is now.
Source: CNN