Flu Shots More Essential Than Ever With COVID-19 On The Rise -10/07/20

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – Even in this unpredictable year, there’s one thing we can count on: Flu season will arrive.

While it’s always important to protect yourself and others from flu, this year it’s critical. With COVID-19 still very much with us, a bad influenza season could have dire consequences—for both you and for the medical system.

Both flu and COVID-19 are respiratory illnesses with similar symptoms, like fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, congestion, body aches, chills and fatigue.

“We now know that people can contract them at the same time,” said Bob Pelz, MD, medical director for infection prevention for PeaceHealth Oregon. “Even though flu is less dangerous than COVID, it’s a killer. About 61,000 Americans died of the disease in the last bad flu season three years ago. Catching COVID and flu could be deadly, especially for older people and anyone with underlying medical issues.”

Dr. Pelz added that the influx of COVID patients coinciding with very bad flu season could spell big trouble for the medical system. “Although our staff is trained and prepared and our supplies are adequate, high numbers of patients needing intensive respiratory care could overburden our caregivers, deplete supplies and make it harder to care for patients in the hospital for other reasons,” he said.

Who should be vaccinated and when?

Flu season typically begins in November or December and can ramp up quickly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting the flu shot before the end of October – although it’s never too late as long as the disease is still present in the community. It usually takes about two weeks after a shot for the vaccine to start working.

The vaccination is safe and effective for nearly everyone, and groups who are particularly vulnerable should make flu shots a priority. These include:

• Anyone 65 and older
• Children younger than 5
• Pregnant women
• People with certain medical conditions

Although children seem to be less vulnerable to COVID-19 than adults, it’s crucial that they, too, receive the flu vaccination.

“Children can and do get very sick from flu, but another reason this is so important this year is that a child infected with flu could pass it on to a grandparent or someone else at high risk for complications from COVID-19,” said Alysha Bennett, MD, a pediatrician with PeaceHealth Medical Group’s University District clinic. “We urge parents to bring their kids in for a flu shot this month – the sooner the better.”

There are some people who should consult with their provider prior to getting a flu shot, including people with an egg allergy and people who have had had Guillain-Barré syndrome, an illness of the central nervous system.

The flu vaccine is never a 100 percent guarantee you won’t get sick, but it can significantly lower your chances of falling ill. And even if you do get the flu, you’ll likely experience milder symptoms if you’ve been vaccinated.

Where can I get a flu shot?

Pediatrics: To make this as easy as possible, PeaceHealth Pediatrics for the first time this year is offering patients a “drive-up” option for flu shots at the RiverBend Pavilion clinic in Springfield. Both the University District and Barger pediatric clinics also have the vaccine available, and are setting aside times specifically for flu shots. Please call your pediatrician’s office directly to schedule an appointment, and visit our website for details on the dates and times of all flu shot clinics: www.peacehealth.org/phmg/eugene-springfield/pediatrics

Adults: All of PeaceHealth’s family medicine and urgent care clinics have the flu vaccine, and many are scheduling days and times for flu shot clinics. Please call ahead to the clinic of your choice, and visit our website for more details: www.peacehealth.org/flushot

What else can I do to protect against the flu?

The same precautions effective against COVID should also help prevent the spread of flu. They include washing hands frequently, wearing face coverings in public, covering your cough, limiting the size and frequency of social gatherings and staying home when you feel sick.

About PeaceHealth: PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, a group practice with more than 900 providers and 10 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.