This Coming Flu Season

I have always had the flu shot since turning 50 and have been fortunate to not have the flu since. IF this virus is still raging I won't be going near any type of medical facility to get the flu shot for fear of coming home with Covid.
 
win231 said:
B-B-B-B-But wouldn't the flu shot prevent any flu?
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Nope, flu shots are very specific for certain flues and are only 40 to 60% effective. I get a shot every year, and have caught the flu, after the shots, twice.
 
Becky1951 said:
I have always had the flu shot since turning 50 and have been fortunate to not have the flu since. IF this virus is still raging I won't be going near any type of medical facility to get the flu shot for fear of coming home with Covid.
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They'll probably be offering them at CVS & other stores if you're interested.
 
I plan on getting my annual flu shot and pneumonia shot in an effort to reduce my risk.

I need to speak with my PCP next week to ask how long an interval I should allow, if any, between my normal immunizations and the new vaccines for COVID19.
 
I get the flu shot, every September....Last year I came home my grandson's graduation party, I wasn't feeling well the next day....I was getting
really sick....I never sleep in the day....But I slept till my husband called my name to get up.....He took my temperature and I had a fever...
He took me to the Doctor the next day... I did have pneumonia.....He suggested when you get better.....Get the pneumonia shot the next month..
I wll get the second shot this September....and another flu shot for this year....
 
Aunt Bea said:
I plan on getting my annual flu shot and pneumonia shot in an effort to reduce my risk.

I need to speak with my PCP next week to ask how long an interval I should allow, if any, between my normal immunizations and the new vaccines for COVID19.
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You get an annual pneumonia shot? I just got, 2 I think, and was finished with this vaccine.
 
Differences: COVID-19 and the Flu
Cause
COVID-19: Caused by one virus, the novel 2019 coronavirus, now called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2.

Flu: Caused by any of several different types and strains of influenza viruses.

Transmission
While both the flu and COVID-19 may be transmitted in similar ways (see the Similarities section above), there is also a possible difference: COVID-19 might be spread through the airborne route, meaning that tiny droplets remaining in the air could cause disease in others even after the ill person is no longer near.

Antiviral Medications

COVID-19: Antiviral medications and other therapies are currently being tested to see if they can address symptoms.

Flu: Antiviral medications can address symptoms and sometimes shorten the duration of the illness.

Vaccine
COVID-19: No vaccine is available at this time, though development and testing is in progress.

Flu: A vaccine is available and effective to prevent some of the most dangerous types or to reduce the severity of the flu.

Complications
COVID-19: Lasting damage to the lungs, heart, kidneys, brain and other organs is possible after a severe case of COVID-19.

Flu: Influenza complications can include inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), brain (encephalitis) or muscles (myositis, rhabdomyolysis) tissues, and multi-organ failure.

Infections
COVID-19: The first cases appeared in China in late 2019 and the first confirmed case in the United States appeared in January 2020.

Approximately 14,727,753 cases have been confirmed worldwide. There have been 3,831,405 cases in the U.S. as of July 21, 2020.*

Flu: The World Health Organization estimates that 1 billion people worldwide get the flu every year.

In the U.S., for Oct. 1, 2019 – Apr. 4, 2020, the CDC estimates that there were 39 million to 56 million cases of flu. (The CDC does not know the exact number because the flu is not a reportable disease in most parts of the U.S.)

Deaths
COVID-19: There have been approximately 610,560 deaths reported worldwide. In the U.S, 140,909 people have died of COVID-19, as of July 21, 2020.*

Flu: The World Health Organization estimates that 290,000 to 650,000 people die of flu-related causes every year worldwide.

In the U.S., from Oct. 1, 2019 – Apr. 4, 2020, the CDC estimates that 24,000 to 62,000 people died from the flu. (The CDC does not know the exact number because the flu is not a reportable disease in most parts of the U.S.)

The COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly. Since this disease is caused by a new virus, people do not have immunity to it, and a vaccine may be many months away. Doctors and scientists are working to estimate the mortality rate of COVID-19, but at present, it is thought to be substantially higher than that of most strains of the flu.

*This information comes from the Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases map developed by the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
 
To me the “flu” is a completely separate issue from C19. I have gotten a fall flu shot for many years, never got the flu & I have the feeling that it has boosted my immune system overall because I almost never get colds. And for many years this was also while I as doing taxes Jan-April with people with colds up in my face at my desk.
 
Becky1951 said:
I have always had the flu shot since turning 50 and have been fortunate to not have the flu since. IF this virus is still raging I won't be going near any type of medical facility to get the flu shot for fear of coming home with Covid.
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do you think they might offer those curbside like they have been doing with those covid19 tests?
 
I've been wondering the same thing fmdog44. To the extent that people are intelligent enough and self-disciplined enough to effectively observe the Covid-19 mitigation practices, it seems likely that the spread of influenza should be similarly lessened.

Still, human nature being what it is . . . hmmm. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
 
I will definitely get the flu shot when it becomes available. I've had the flu a couple of times in my life and it was no picnic. Never had it since getting the vaccines though.

@fmdog44 is probably correct that social distancing and masking up in public will likely reduce the flu's numbers this season. Silver lining on a monstrous dark cloud.
 
win231 said:
I wouldn't wear a mask unless it was required. Now that it's required when shopping, that's when I wear one.
They can't require a flu shot - or any shot.
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Children are required to get shots or they can’t enter school except in limited cases
 

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