Vaccinated against influenza in 2020

Bruce Evink, Chairman of Family Medicine and Physicians at Sanford Health Broadway Clinic, Ann Stehn, Administrator of Holizon Public Health, and Deb Dittberner, Chief Health Officer of Alomere Health, shared advice with the community.

Influenza vaccinations are available through healthcare providers, pharmacies, local clinics, and some employers. Ebink said he was encouraged to see many patients vaccinated against the flu at the Sanford Clinic in September.

Ditburner said, “Just get it,” wherever people decide to go.

“Influenza vaccination is the best mechanism to reduce the burden of influenza on individual patients and our entire healthcare system,” says Ebink. “In 2020, there will be another serious respiratory illness of COVID-19, so it is even more important to try to reduce the prevalence of influenza as much as possible.”

Evink said the increase in influenza cases could overwhelm essential workers trying to get COVID-19.

Influenza vaccination is not 100% effective, but vaccines have proven to increase safety over the years and are the best way to reduce the chance of getting the flu when it becomes an epidemic in the community. Evink said.

“The most vulnerable are both (COVID-19 and influenza), which can significantly increase morbidity and mortality from these diseases,” Evink said.

Stehn said both the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health have agreed to the importance of being vaccinated against influenza this year.

The CDC recommends that all people over the age of 6 months be vaccinated against the flu every year.

“Both influenza and COVID-19 are infectious respiratory diseases,” Stehn said. “There are a lot of unpredictable things in our community because we haven’t experienced the flu season with COVID-19 added, but we know there are some similar symptoms and what someone is doing. It can be difficult to tell if you have it. It’s based solely on your symptoms. “

Dit Burner says no.

She said there were fewer cases of influenza in the winter months of the Southern Hemisphere this year. This is probably due to COVID-19 precautions, but she said people should be vaccinated against the flu for three reasons.

First, influenza is one of many viral infections with early symptoms similar to COVID-19.

“By preventing diseases that look like COVID, we can focus on the containment of COVID,” she said.

Second, influenza visits many clinics and hospitals each year. Increasing the number of flu shots will reduce the number of flu cases and visits to the healthcare system, allowing healthcare professionals to focus on COVID-19 cases and other health issues.

Third, those who get sick weaken their immune system for the next few months and are at increased risk of developing other, and perhaps worse, illnesses.

“The flu vaccine is another precaution we recommend taking every year, but it’s especially important this year,” Stehn said.

Evink said that following the COVID-19 guidelines is likely to reduce the spread of influenza. However, getting a flu shot in addition to other precautions should provide the most protection for an individual.

“It will be interesting to see the impact of our mitigation efforts after the flu season is over,” Ebink said.

If you are experiencing upper airway symptoms, Dittberner said the individual should be at home and call a healthcare provider to be examined.

Dittberner also suggested that as winter approaches, people should keep their social circles small but tight.

“We need social interaction for physical and emotional health, but we need to do it safely,” said Ditburner.

She also recommended focusing on self-care by sleeping well, exercising, eating a healthy diet, hydrating, and managing stressors.

Evink advised people to take special care to avoid close contact with sick people. He repeated Dittberner’s statement, stating that respiratory symptoms should be monitored and that a healthcare provider should be visited if they occur.

“By paying attention to others and staying compassionate, we can reduce the burden of these illnesses and work together to overcome them,” Evink said.