We’re approaching flu season, and guess what? It’s time for your annual flu shot! Schools are now in session and kids are the most common germ spreaders. People are also still traveling and the COVID-19 Delta variant and other variants have snuck into Connecticut.
As symptoms for both viruses often overlap, you don’t want to blow off a flu shot this year. It can be hard to diagnose and treat if you get COVID-19, the flu or both at the same time (yes, you can get both at the same time). AFC Urgent Care Danbury is aware of the possible flu and COVID-19 “twindemic” and we are here to give you updated information on how to avoid the flu and stay safe from COVID-19.
The 2021 flu vaccine has some new updates
AFC urgent care Danbury offers the quadrivalent flu vaccine to cover 4 strains of the flu virus. Here is the list of new components in the quadrivalent flu vaccines for the 2021/2022 flu season:
- 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.
We offer flu shots for seniors
In addition to the above, there are two new flu vaccines that are now available for adults over the age of 65. This is important because the eldery are considered high risk individuals and protecting them from at least the flu is better than no protection, period. Right now, the quadrivalent high-dose vaccine is available for this age group and replaces the former trivalent dose. There’s also another quadrivalent adjuvanted vaccine for the elderly that has an additional influenza B component.
Who is at risk for having complications from the flu?
- Pregnant Women
- People 65 years of age and older
- Kids 5 years of age and younger
- People who have Chronic Diseases, such as:
- Heart Disease
- Metabolic Diseases (Diabetes)
- Asthma
- Pulmonary Disease
- Liver Disease
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Immunosuppressed individuals (not only individuals with AIDS but people undergoing chemotherapy as well)
I didn’t get sick with the flu last year, so why do I need to get vaccinated?
COVID-19 is still circulating around the world and there is evidence that shows that you can still contract another respiratory illness while having COVID-19 at the same time. At the same time, we now have new variants like the delta variant that’s highly contagious than it’s former strain.
You don’t want to get both the flu and COVID-19 at the same time because it can be hard to diagnose and treat. This is why we suggest getting the flu shot as soon as you can so you can avoid this. This way, if you do get COVID-19 we can rule out the flu and you will know for sure that it’s just COVID-19.
It is also important to get a flu vaccine right now because we want to help protect high risk individuals like the elderly and the immunocompromised. Flu shots for the younger age groups count more than you think. As time has shown that the younger age groups have been going out during COVID-19, this may potentially put an elderly person at risk from contracting both the flu and COVID-19. Now is not the time to be irresponsible and carefree.
The flu shot is the best safeguard to avoid the dreaded “twindemic”
Should you get vaccinated for both COVID-19 and the flu? Yes. Ages 12 and up are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Some of us are probably due for a booster shot. Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 will help protect you from the COVID-19 virus. But, it will not protect you against the flu.
The best safeguard to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot. You can avoid the twindemic by getting a flu vaccine at AFC urgent Care Danbury. We have plenty of flu vaccines available and if you need COVID-19 testing done, we can do that too!
We also have 2 other great locations serving the Greater Danbury area on 2 Main st. and 100 Mill Plain Road.
We accept most insurances and also offer COVID-19 testing 7 days a week with no appointment needed. Just walk-in at 76 Newtown Road.!
