Flu Vaccines and COVID-19: Preparing for the 2021/2022 Flu Season

September 29, 2021

Flu season 2021/2022 is approaching and it’s time to get your annual flu shots. As the flu was the only thing we had to worry about spreading prior to 2020, this fall and winter, COVID-19 may also be in the mix as well. This year, we have new updates to the flu vaccines so that we all can prevent the flu. We hope that by eliminating flu we can rule this out when trying to diagnose COVID-19. Symptoms for both viruses often overlap and we don’t want to see anyone in our Danbury community fall victim to both at the same time. AFC Urgent Care Danbury is now offering the quadrivalent flu vaccine and we will continue to update everyone on flu vaccines, and COVID-19 so that you can prepare for the 2021/2022 flu season.

Why is it important to get the flu vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic

We’re still living in COVID-19. It has not gone away completely and we still need to be careful. Schools have just begun and while some have delays, this is the perfect opportunity to get the flu vaccine because kids are the most common spreaders of the flu. If they can spread the flu, they could also come home and spread COVID-19 as well. In addition to this, people are still traveling so there is a risk for transmission for COVID-19 and it’s other variants. So, why get the flu vaccine during the pandemic? According to The CDC, it is possible to get both COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. If you have COVID-19, why add the flu on top of that? It’s a no brainer. Get flu vaccinated this season.

What’s new about the 2021 flu vaccines and when should I get mine?

Flu vaccines are made months in advance to combat possible strains during the flu season. As scientists and researchers planned ahead they made some new updates to the flu vaccines to better prepare for the flu season this year. Here is the updated list from the CDC:

The egg-based H1N1 vaccine component was updated from an A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus to an A/Guangdong-Maonan/SWL1536/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus.
The cell- or recombinant-based H1N1 vaccine component was updated from an A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus to an A/Hawaii/70/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus.
The egg-based H3N2 vaccine component was updated from an A/Kansas/14/2017 (H3N2)-like virus to an A/Hong Kong/2671/2019 (H3N2)-like virus.
The cell- or recombinant-based H3N2 vaccine component was updated from an A/Kansas/14/2017 (H3N2)-like virus to an A/Hong Kong/45/2019 (H3N2)-like virus.
The B/Victoria lineage vaccine component was updated from a B/Colorado/06/2017 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus to a B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.
The B/Yamagata lineage vaccine component was not updated.

AFC Urgent Care Danbury offers the quadrivalent flu vaccine. We suggest that anyone over the age of 6 months get it this year. The CDC also mentions that you should get vaccinated in September or October, before the start of the Flu season.

New flu vaccine for Seniors

There are also two new vaccines licensed for adults over the age of 65. To better protect seniors there is now a quadrivalent high-dose vaccine that replaces the former trivalent dose. There’s also another quadrivalent adjuvanted vaccine for seniors that has an additional influenza B component. Remember: When you get the flu vaccine, you are not only protecting yourself against illness, but you are protecting everyone around you. Infants younger than 6 months don’t have the immune systems strong enough to get vaccinated or to fight off the flu. Make sure that everyone in your family gets a flu shot so that you can protect your newborns. The same thing also applies to the elderly and immunocompromised. Get vaccinated to help protect your grandparents!

AFC Urgent Care Danbury offers the quadrivalent flu vaccine

AFC Urgent Care Danbury is now offering the quadrivalent flu shot 7 days a week to help avoid the possible “twindemic”. You can also come to any of our centers anytime. We recommend anyone ages 6 months and up (including seniors/the elderly) to get vaccinated for the flu. There is no appointment necessary, and we accept most insurances. We also offer COVID-19 testing to help rule out COVID during the winter flu season. AFC has 3 locations serving the greater Danbury area located at 2 Main Street, 100 Mill Plain Road, and 76c Newtown Road.