There’s a Lot to Worry About, Take Flu and COVID Off the List
What is influenza?
Flu is a contagious disease that is caused by the influenza virus. It primarily affects the throat and nose. However, it may also affect the lungs in some cases. The flu immunization is offered each year to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and complications. Flu season peaks in the fall and winter and changes from year to year, so receiving your annual flu shot is critical for protecting yourself, your family, and your community. According to the CDC, flu immunizations prevent millions of flu related illnesses and doctor’s visits every year.
Understanding COVID-19
COVID-19 is a highly contagious and fast spreading disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. While most COVID cases are mild, some people fall severely ill. According to the CDC, COVID has caused nearly 1.2 million deaths in the U.S. as of June 1st, 2024. It is spread through droplets and particles containing the virus when an infected person breathes, and primarily affects the lungs and respiratory system. The best way to prevent the spread of COVID is staying up to date on immunizations. Check the CDC for more information about staying up to date with COVID immunizations.
Why immunizations matter
You may be wondering if a yearly flu shot is really necessary. You might even ask yourself if a COVID shot is still needed years after the pandemic. The truth is COVID and flu shots are a necessity for reducing spread, lowering hospitalization risk, and protecting vulnerable individuals. Staying up to date with your immunizations can prevent serious illness and even death.
Flu vs. COVID-19
Flu and COVID share many similarities. It can at times be difficult to distinguish between the two diseases. In addition to being two contagious respiratory diseases, Flu and COVID both:
- Affect the nose, throat, and lungs.
- Cause fever, chills, cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches, and at times, vomiting and diarrhea.
- Spread through respiratory droplets.
There are many steps you can take to prevent flu and COVID. Washing your hands, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow, and isolating yourself when sick are important practices that fight the spread of disease.
One key difference between the two is that COVID symptoms typically take longer to appear, can persist longer than flu symptoms, and individuals with COVID are usually contagious for a longer period of time. Due to the similarities, testing is often required to determine a proper diagnosis.