Why flu shots are so important during COVID-19 pandemic
Doctors urge widespread flu shot vaccinations in addition to the use of face masks to protect Americans from both COVID-19 and influenza.
Leading health officials across the country are warning of a potential influenza outbreak in the midst of the COVID-19 public health crisis. Doctors are also concerned that symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are very similar. Influenza and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses and without precautions and vaccinations, they have the potential to put additional strain on already overburdened U.S. hospitals.
To fight the potential spread, doctors at Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies urge everyone to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older. The push for flu vaccinations is echoed by the American Academy of Pediatrics concerned about the two potentially deadly viruses spreading among children.
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans.