Officials plead: Get a flu shot

Health officials are urging people to get the flu shot this fall and winter as flu viruses and COVID-19 may both spread at the same time.

People have many reasons to get a flu vaccine this year, Mercer County Health District Administrator Jason Menchhofer said on Wednesday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone over the age of 6 months get the vaccine. The vaccine is especially important for those at high risk of having serious flu-related complications.

These include pregnant women, children younger than 5 and especially children younger than 2 years old, people aged 65 and older, anyone with certain chronic medical conditions, people living in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities and those who live with or care for others at high risk for complications, such as health care workers and caregivers.

Influenza, or the flu, and COVID-19 have several similarities, according to the CDC. They're both contagious respiratory illnesses, but the two are caused by different viruses.

They also share similar symptoms, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle pain or body aches and headache.

COVID-19, however, has other signs and symptoms that differ from the flu's, such as a temporary loss of taste or smell. This temporary loss of taste and smell is a neurological symptom not to be confused with the loss of taste and smell a person might experience with a head cold or the flu, according to an online report from Harvard Medical School.

And unlike the seasonal flu, humans have not built up immunity to COVID-19 since it is new. The flu can be treated and prevented with a vaccine, and over time humans have built up some immunity to the disease.

Both viruses can lead to serious illness, hospitalization or death. However, the CDC has indicated that COVID-19 appears to be more deadly than the seasonal flu.

Menchhofer said getting a flu vaccine in tandem with best health practices, such as frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when sick, can help prevent the flu.

Following the best practices recommended for COVID-19, such as social distancing, mask wearing and limiting large gatherings, has led to low flu activity globally, according to the CDC.

Interventions aimed at preventing COVID-19, plus flu vaccinations, could substantially reduce flu incidence in the U.S., the CDC continued, adding some mitigation measures might reduce transmission in future flu seasons.

Although some are not fond of wearing facial coverings, the CDC said evidence shows facial coverings can prevent or slow the spread of the flu in the same way they can slow the spread of COVID-19.

"There is evidence to support the use of face masks by infected persons to reduce transmission of viral respiratory illnesses to others and growing evidence to support their use (in the health care setting, in households and in the community) to protect the healthy wearer from acquiring infection," the CDC wrote in its Sept. 18 morbidity and mortality weekly report.

Most flu vaccines protect against four flu viruses that research suggests will be most common for the year. So while it may not protect against every flu strain, a vaccine will still be a person's best bet, Menchhofer said.

Getting a flu vaccine also can help people decide whether they have the flu or COVID-19. If someone who's had the flu vaccine gets sick, the odds of an illness being COVID-19 are greater.

Getting a flu shot also can limit the possibility of contracting the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, which the CDC said is possible. Health experts are still studying how common this can be, according to the CDC.

While a flu shot won't prevent COVID-19, it can help ease the effect of flu cases, hospitalizations and deaths on the health care system and conserve resources for people with COVID-19, Menchhofer noted.

And while officials can't say with certainty what will happen in the fall and winter, the CDC believes flu viruses and the coronavirus will likely both be spreading.

Another factor involves the potential of a COVID-19 vaccine. For most COVID-19 vaccines, two doses spread out over the course of three or four weeks will be necessary, according to the CDC.

County health district officials encourage people to get the flu shot early this year because it may be necessary to wait for a while between getting the flu shot and a COVID-19 vaccine.

Although no date has been set for a COVID-19 vaccine release, President Donald Trump on Sept. 17 said a vaccine would be available in three to four weeks. However, Dr. Robert Redfield, head of the CDC, said even when a vaccine is released it will not likely be available to the general public until next summer.

The CDC plans to release vaccinations in three phases. Phase 1 focuses on three groups, including health care personnel likely to be exposed to or treat people with COVID-19; people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, including those with underlying medical conditions and people aged 65 and older; and other essential workers.

Phase 2 will finish vaccinating essential workers and then start treating general populations. Phase 3 will reach out to any unvaccinated people.

The Mercer County Health District will host several fall flu vaccine clinics.

A drive-thru clinic will be held from 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Mercer County Fairgrounds. Officials ask people to use the Market Street entrance.

The heath district will also have two walk-in clinics from 9:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m. Oct. 20 and Nov. 3 at the district office in the county central services building, 220 W. Livingston St., Celina.

All contracted private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare can be billed, according to a district news release. Clients are asked to fill out screening forms, which can be found at mchdohio.org, before their visit.

For those not wanting to bill insurance, a self-pay discount will be offered: $65 for high dose, $65 for Flublok and $30 for the standard quadrivalent flu vaccine. Payment is due at the time of service. Cash or check will be accepted.

Clients 6 months and older who meet the criteria for federally funded vaccines will be charged only the $15 administration fee. These clients will not be denied vaccine because of inability to pay.

All vaccines give protection against two A strains and two B strains of the influenza virus and will be offered depending on availability. All vaccines are in pre-filled syringes. FluMist nasal spray vaccine will not be available.

Clients are asked to wear masks or facial coverings to protect staff. For more information, contact the health district at 419-586-3251

The Auglaize County Health Department also will host a drive-thru flu clinic from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds. Screening forms can be found at auglaizehealth.org.