A flu shot is extra important this year

New York – The flu virus starts spreading as the weather gets cooler. Doctors say the best prevention is a flu vaccine, and it’s time to get one. This is very important because the coronavirus is still around.

According to Dr. Philip Falcone, the chief medical officer at St. Joseph’s Health, so far, flu cases are low. He says people should get vaccinated in September or October before the flu becomes prevalent.

Dr. Falcone says that patients can get a flu shot and covid vaccine at the same time. Anyone who is older than six months is eligible for a vaccine. People younger than 5 years old, older than 65 or with comorbidities are especially vulnerable to the flu, so vaccination is important.

Hospital resources are already stretched thin because of COVID-19, so fewer patients is crucial.

“It’s really important if we get people vaccinated against the flu, it’s one less thing for us to have to deal with in the hospital,” said Dr. Falcone. “And I think overall, people will be much better and feel healthier since they’re not having to be hospitalized for the flu.”

According to Dr. Falcone, every health care facility is dealing with staffing shortages and a scarcity of ICU beds, so flu season this fall and winter will prevent added challenges for the hospital.

“During the flu season, we are going to see flu cases, we are going to see other respiratory issues, and on top of that, we are still dealing with COVID,” said Dr. Falcone. “So if we can prevent even one hospital admission from a flu case, that will be a help to us to deal with everyone.”

Last season was a light year for the flu, but Dr. Falcone guesses more people will get sick with the virus because the immunity has waned.

According to the CDC, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized with the flu every year, and up to 60,000 people will die from the virus.
Flu vaccines are available at doctors’ offices and pharmacies.