The COVID-19 vaccine has been on the minds of many as the fight continues against the coronavirus pandemic, but according to one local physician, it is also time to start thinking about receiving a flu vaccine.
Dr. Andrew Reisman, a physician with Longstreet Clinic Family Medicine in Oakwood, said it is especially important to receive the flu vaccine this year to prevent a simultaneous infection with COVID-19.
“We have had several years where people have had flu and strep at the same time, and it makes it much harder to diagnose,” Dr. Reisman said. “So, the same parameters apply, you don’t want to have both the flu and COVID.”
Dr. Reisman said last year’s flu season was extremely mild, partially due to the wearing of masks and social distancing by many in the community. However, Dr. Reisman said it is hard to project what the flu season will look like this year due to the relaxing of COVID-19 safety protocols.
While it may seem early, Dr. Reisman said he personally believes the flu season starts in early August and ends at the end of May. Because of this, he said people should get the flu vaccine now, rather than wait.
“Where we used to have the recommendation to give you the flu vaccines in October or later, now the recommendation is to get the flu vaccine as soon as the flu vaccine is available, which has been for the last three weeks,” Dr. Reisman said.
Dr. Reisman said most of the injectable flu vaccines are composed of a dead influenza virus.
“A lot of people think that when you get a flu shot, that you can get the flu, and that’s literally impossible because what you’re getting injected with is dead, destroyed flu viruses that then show your immune system their various parts,” Dr. Reisman said.
However, those receiving a flu shot can still experience a natural immune reaction, including side effects such as fever or body aches.
