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Preparing for the flu season during COVID-19 (coronavirus)

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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Preparing for the flu season during COVID-19 (coronavirus)

It's especially important to get your flu vaccine this year, because the flu andcoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)will likely be circulating at the same time and cause similar symptoms.

Learn more aboutcoronavirus and flu similarities and differences.

Theflu vaccinedoesn't protect you from COVID-19. But getting a flu vaccine could reduce flu symptoms that could be confused with COVID-19 symptoms. Getting your flu vaccine can also help lessen the impact on health care providers and hospitals by reducing the number of people with severe flu and hospitalized with the flu.

Why getting vaccinated for the flu is doubly important this season

Watch Gregory A. Poland, M.D., a Mayo Clinic vaccine expert, explain why it's important to get the flu vaccine this year.

Danielle (DeeDee) J. Stiepan:Getting your annual flu vaccine is especially important this season.

Gregory A. Poland, M.D., Infectious Diseases:Where we have COVID-19 spreading, we will very likely have influenza spreading.

DeeDee Stiepan:The flu vaccine won't protect against COVID-19, but it can help reduce the chance of getting the flu.

Dr. Poland:公司的症状VID-19 and influenza overlap almost exactly in their initial manifestations, with the exception of the loss of smell, loss of taste. That would be very unusual in influenza.

DeeDee Stiepan:Getting a flu vaccine helps rule out influenza if you develop respiratory issues and helps reduce stress on the health care system.

Dr. Poland:Every American age six months and older, get a flu vaccine. An opportunity we have in the context of this twindemic is not only to get our flu vaccines but to remember these nonpharmaceutical interventions — the mask wearing, physical distancing. While they prevent COVID-19, they also decrease the risk of influenza.

DeeDee Stiepan:For the Mayo Clinic News Network, I'm DeeDee Stiepan.

Disclaimer: Dr. Poland was alone in his office during this video.

It's also important to follow precautions to reduce the spread of flu and COVID-19. For example:

  • Wash your hands regularly
  • Avoid touching your face
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes
  • Avoid crowds
  • Avoid anyone who is sick
  • Stay home if you're sick
  • Clean high-touch surfaces often
  • Take other precautions to reduce your risk of COVID-19, such as practicing social distancing and wearing a cloth face mask when around people outside your household

Find out more about the flu:

  • COVID-19, cold, allergies and the flu: What are the differences?
  • Time for your flu vaccine (podcast)
  • Influenza (flu)
  • Flu shot: Your best bet for avoiding influenza
  • Facts about the flu vaccine, COVID-19
  • Flu shot for kids: Does my child need a flu shot?
  • Flu shot in pregnancy: Is it safe?
  • Flu vaccine: Safe for people with egg allergy?
  • Home
  • Preparing for the flu season during COVID-19 (coronavirus)
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