Flu season amid the COVID-19 pandemic

With vaccines (and for some, boosters), protection against both illnesses are available and advised.

Fall of 2020, in the midst of a COVID-19 surge, the traditional flu season was virtually non-existent by conventional standards.

A combination of mitigation strategies to slow the spread of the coronavirus and an increased flu vaccination rate contributed to a very mild flu season.

However, with the relaxing of many COVID-19 mitigation measures after the vaccine rollout, more flu is expected this year.

Vaccines

Following a COVID-19 vaccination, many now have questions regarding the flu shot and getting one at the same time.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, who’s guided the United States’ response to the pandemic, said it’s safe for both vaccines to be administered at the same time.

This includes boosters for those who are eligible.

Both the flu shot and a COVID-19 vaccine are strongly encouraged by clinical professionals.

Doing so will aid in protecting against a double infection of the flu and COVID-19, avoiding a potentially devastating effect on the body.

Signs and symptoms

While many of the symptoms of each condition are similar, variations in those symptoms can help in determining which affliction is ailing the patient.

For instance, a cough is symptomatic of each, but it’s a dry cough that’s symptomatic of COVID-19 while a wet cough is associated with a cold and the flu. And COVID-19 is the only of the three illnesses that can lead to a loss of taste and smell.

The only way to know for certain which illness is causing these symptoms, though, is to get a test.