LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – This fall may possibly be the most important time ever to get your flu vaccination. CDC and infectious disease experts warn this fall may be precarious as both flu and COVID-19 will be circulating.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19, such as stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders, have led to decreased use of routine preventive medical services, including immunization services.
“There has never been a more important year to get the flu vaccination,” stressed Urgent Team Chief Medical Officer Matthew Browning, M.D. “With many states continuing to show high rates of COVID-19 infection, risking contracting both the COVID-19 and flu virus this season may lead to serious medical complications.”
Health care and infectious disease experts warn there is a risk of contracting both flu and COVID-19, as dual infections are not uncommon.
“If someone contracts both COVID-19 and flu at the same time, this would increase the risk of requiring treatment in the intensive care unit and also make them more susceptible to other major illnesses like bacterial pneumonia,” Dr. Browning said.
While there is currently not a vaccination for COVID-19, there is a flu vaccine and it has many important benefits.
“Although a flu vaccination will not protect you from COVID-19 – and it’s not a guarantee you won’t get the flu – the vaccine has been shown to reduce the severity if you do catch flu, thus reducing the risk of hospitalization and even death,” Browning explained. “Staying healthy by getting a flu vaccination this year will also help to conserve potentially scarce healthcare resources.”
“September and October are the best times to get vaccinated to obtain immunity throughout the flu season,” Browning said. “However, getting the vaccination later in the season is better than not at all. Also, remember that it takes two weeks after your shot to achieve full benefit, so continue to avoid those with flu symptoms until then.”
The CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older should get a flu shot and here are the top reasons:
- The odds are in your favor. Being vaccinated decreases your chances of getting flu by more than half.
- Even if you do catch flu, a vaccination can make symptoms milder.
- Last year’s flu shot doesn’t count. The virus from last year might not be the same as this year’s vaccination.
- You’ll protect others, too! By being vaccinated, you’ll slow the spread of the flu virus to those around you.
Baptist Health Urgent Care centers in Benton, Bryant, Cabot, Fort Smith, Jacksonville, Little Rock (two centers) and North Little Rock now offer the 2020-2021 flu vaccination for the A (H3N2), A (H1N1) and influenza B viruses. Available are:
- Fluzone Quadrivalent- for patients age 6 months and older (first-time flu shot patients up to age 9 may require two separate doses one month apart);
- Flublok Quadrivalent- for patients age 18 and older; and
- Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent – for patients 65 and older.
The vaccination is covered by most insurance plans at no cost to the patient. Also, flu vaccines are generally free for anyone with Medicare Part B, employer health insurance or other insurance that conforms to the Affordable Care Act, as well as for many Medicaid beneficiaries. At Baptist Health Urgent Care, patients are encouraged to use Hold My Spot™ online to schedule a time for their flu shot.
In addition, because flu and COVID-19 share many of the same symptoms, testing for both illnesses will be extremely important. Baptist Health Urgent Care offers testing for both flu and COVID-19. For more information about flu or to find a Baptist Health Urgent Care center near you, visit BaptistHealthUrgentCare.net.
About Baptist Health Urgent Care
Baptist Health Urgent Care, with eight locations in Arkansas, is an affiliate of Urgent Team Family of Urgent Care & Walk-in Centers, one of the largest independent operators of urgent and family care centers in the Southeast. The Urgent Team Family of Centers provides quality and affordable family healthcare at 62 locations under six brands: Baptist Health Urgent Care, Sherwood Urgent Care and Washington Regional Urgent Care (throughout Arkansas); Urgent Team (throughout Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee); Huntsville Hospital Urgent Care (throughout North Alabama); and Physicians Care (throughout Tennessee and Georgia). Baptist Health Urgent Care’s convenient, walk-in centers provide a range of healthcare services including treatments for injuries and illnesses, occupational health and wellness care. Baptist Health Urgent Care offers three ways to visit: walk-in, 24/7 online scheduling with Hold My Spot® or a Telemedicine visit. Urgent Team’s company headquarters are located in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit BaptistHealthUrgentCare.net.
About Baptist Health
Baptist Health is Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization with more than 250 points of access that include 11 hospitals; urgent care centers; a senior living community and over 100 primary and specialty care clinics in Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. The system additionally offers a college with studies in nursing and allied health; a graduate residency program; and access to virtual care anytime, anywhere. Baptist Health, as the largest not-for-profit health care organization based in Arkansas, provides care to patients wherever they are through the support of approximately 11,000 employees, groundbreaking treatments, renowned physicians and community outreach programs. For more information about Baptist Health, visit baptist-health.com, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.