Q: For several months I’ve been hearing that it’s more important than ever to get a flu shot this season. Why is that?
A: For several months, healthcare providers have been concerned that medical resources around the U.S. could be stretched to the limit during the flu season because of the current demand on those resources from the COVID-19 pandemic. We know that the flu can sometimes make people ill enough to go to the hospital, so encouraging everyone to get the flu vaccine is one effort to keep them safe. The flu shot can prevent the flu or turn a case of the flu into a mild one, which helps people avoid the hospital during this critical time. Getting a flu shot also helps you protect those around you.
Dr. Mark Jansen, Chief Medical Officer