We are about to enter the flu season so it is time to schedule your flu vaccine. Staying healthy this winter is particularly important as experts are predicting a severe flu season.

While flu cases were at record lows the past two years, this year could be totally the opposite. The past two flu seasons had COVID mask and social distancing restrictions in place which great reduced the spread of the flu virus. We don’t have the same restrictions in place for this fall and winter. The lack of these restrictions will increase the number of flu cases.

In addition to the lack of transmission restrictions, experts are worried that the low number of cases the past two years has lessened natural immunity to the flu virus. This lack of immunity could lead to more cases and more severe cases.

The true danger to a severe flu season is adding it to a potential upswing in COVID cases. If we have a severe flu outbreak and a severe COVID outbreak, we could overwhelm our health system once again. This will strain resources as the two infections are quite similar in presentation.

COVID-19 and flu share many of the same symptoms including:

  • Fever or feeling feverish/having chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue (tiredness)
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle pain or body aches
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Change in or loss of taste or smell, although this is more frequent with COVID-19

Flu Symptoms

COVID-19 Symptoms

Staying healthy this winter can be as simple as one, two, three. One, get the flu vaccine. Two, get the new COVID booster. Three, protection yourself with masks and social distancing if the flu or COVID is prevalent in your community. Do your part to keep your family, schools, and workplace safe.