Flu shot extra important this pandemic year: Kaiser Permanente

Get your flu shot.

With the Covid-19 pandemic on-going and the influenza season just around the corner, Kaiser Permanente doctors are urging people to get their flu shots.

”Flu vaccination is more important than ever, both for you and those around you,” said Ryan Knueppel, MD, Chief of Infectious Disease at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center.

Influenza is highly contagious, and someone infected with the flu virus can spread it in the days before symptoms appear. Knueppel said the vaccine not only works to protect you, but also helps prevent the spread of the flu in the community.

And the vaccine works. Last year alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported flu shots prevented 7.1 million illnesses, 3.7 million medical visits, 109,000 hospitalizations, and 8,000 deaths nationally.

“Additionally, every patient we protect from flu is one less person presenting with flu-like symptoms that can be confused with symptomatic Covid-19 disease,”. Knueppel said.

Flu and Covid-19 have similar symptoms. They include:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle pain or body aches
• Headache
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults

Other signs and symptoms of COVID-19, different from flu, may include change in or loss of taste or smell.

It’s highly recommended that older adults, those with underlying conditions, and pregnant women get their flu vaccinations this year. Pregnant and postpartum women have been observed to be at higher risk for severe illness and complications from influenza, particularly during the second and third trimesters.

The CDC says getting a flu vaccine this fall will be more important than ever, not only to reduce your risk from getting the flu, but also to help conserve potentially scarce health care resources during the pandemic.

Kaiser Permanente is making it easier than ever to get a flu shot. Many medical centers are setting up drive-thru flu clinics. Drive-thru clinics make it easier and safer for people to maintain social distancing.

“Remember to get your flu vaccine, continue social distancing, wear a mask, and practice good hand hygiene,” Knueppel said. “Together, we can stay healthy.”