Yes, you guessed it. Flu season is right around the corner. “But, do I have to get a flu shot?”. We hear this all the time. This year especially, it’s important that you get vaccinated for the flu because COVID-19 is still around and there are NEW variants circulating across the states.

Both viruses have symptoms that are very similar and heading into the flu season, you don’t want to get both. AFC Urgent Care Danbury now offers the quadrivalent flu shot and we’re here to guide you this flu season so you can avoid the “twindemic”.

The flu vaccine has some new updates in 2021

The CDC has information and updates for the flu vaccine in 2021 that you should know:

• 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

Now offering Flu shots for seniors

There are also two new vaccines licensed for use during the 2020-2021 flu season. To better prepare seniors there is now a quadrivalent high-dose vaccine that replaces the former trivalent dose. The second one is a quadrivalent adjuvanted vaccine that has an additional influenza B component.  

I heard that you can get the flu from getting vaccinated, is that true?

Myth buster!: You can not contract the flu from a flu shot. The virus in your shot is not a live virus, and has been weakened to the point that it will not actually make you sick, but will encourage your body to start creating antibodies to fight a possible flu.

Fun Flu Fact!: Another great side effect of getting the flu shot is that it not only protects you against the flu, but effectively boosts your immune system. By getting the vaccine you are decreasing your chance of getting sick in any form this season.

Do I need to get both the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot?

Let’s put an end to these questions circulating across the internet:

• Can a flu shot protect me from COVID-19? 

• Can the COVID-19 vaccine protect me from the Flu?

The answer is no to both. These two vaccines are designed to protect against two different viruses. Getting one over the other is not going to protect you from everything. 

We highly suggest getting both of the vaccines because they’re designed to protect you from the flu and COVID-19, especially since we’re approaching flu season. The good news is The CDC says you can get both at the same time. So, there is no reason to skip out or space out each vaccine. 

Can you get COVID-19 and the flu at the same time?

Research has shown that it is possible to get more than one respiratory infection while having COVID-19. We hope that it doesn’t come to this and that is why we highly suggest you get vaccinated for the flu. This way, we can at least rule out the flu when trying to diagnose COVID-19. If you get both it will be hard to diagnose and treat.

If you need to be tested for COVID-19, we do that too, 7 days a week.

Get your Flu Shot at AFC Urgent Care Danbury

Expect a possible twindemic this flu season. If you or a loved one is worried about the flu you can come to our AFC urgent care center, no appointment necessary, at 100 Mill Plain road in Danbury, CT. We also have 2 other great locations serving the Greater Danbury area on 2 Main st. and 76c Newtown road.

We accept most insurances and also offer COVID-19 testing 7 days a week with no appointment needed. Just walk-in!