Why you Should get the Flu Vaccine this Year

CLEVELAND – It’s National Influenza Vaccination Week, which is a time set aside each year to raise awareness about the importance of the flu vaccine.

“You should get it as soon as possible, certainly before the end of the year as the circulating strains of influenza will start to appear between now and about March and April of next year,” advised Neha Vyas, MD, family medicine physician for Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Vyas said she often gets asked about how this year’s flu vaccine will coincide with the COVID-19 vaccine and notes it is perfectly safe to get both. In fact, you could even get them at the same time if needed.

Possible side effects include soreness at the site of the injection, fever, chills and headaches. She said they aren’t typically any worse if you were to get both vaccines simultaneously. To help with that, you can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Dr. Vyas said having both vaccines will be your best bet against potentially getting sick this winter.

“We do expect that both viruses will be circulating among us as we start to lower our social distancing and masking from what we did last year, so it’s really important to be immunized for both of those viruses. And, there is a thought that acquiring both viruses simultaneously may make you very sick and we want to prevent that,” she said.

According to the CDC, everyone six months of age and older should get the flu vaccine with rare exceptions. If you are concerned about whether to get it, Dr. Vyas recommends talking to your physician.