How Flu Shots Can Help With The Spread Of COVID-19

The dangerous spread of COVID-19 has been heavily impacted by the fact that the disease often causes minor symptoms in many people. Some may experience little to no symptoms or have what feels like the flu. As a result, it is important for those who want to protect themselves and others during this time to get a flu shot to stay healthy and to ensure that they know the difference.

COVID-19 and Flu Symptoms are Very Similar

The flu and COVID-19 have symptoms that often seem very similar — such as nausea, a fever, congestion, and sore throats — in a way that may cause a person to avoid getting tested or treated for COVID-19. Unfortunately, they may find that they have COVID-19 and end up spreading it to a bunch of people, even to those who end up getting very sick and even passing away as a result.

Or a person may just have the flu that goes away after a few days to a week — without testing, it isn't always easy to tell. However, there is a way to mitigate this problem and make it harder to tell the difference — by never getting the flu. And the easiest way to manage this danger is to get a flu shot to make a person immune to many strains — making it easier to tell if they do have COVID-19.

How Flu Shots Help

Flu shots consist of inactive or dead versions of various flu viruses — these inactive viruses trigger an immune system response that is mild but enough to produce what is known as antibodies. These antibodies can then focus on those viruses and destroy them. As a result, a person who gets exposed to the flu after getting a shot won't develop symptoms because their body will destroy it right away.

Just as importantly, getting a flu shot helps to protect a person's immune system by ensuring that it is not compromised by exposure to the flu. In this way, their body will be more prepared to fight off COVID-19 if they do get it or may decrease the severity of their symptoms by managing them as they develop, enhancing the strength of the immune system, and making a person healthier.

As a result, it is a good idea to talk to a doctor or a pharmacy about getting a flu shot right away. Manufacturers have been attempting to produce a higher amount than normal to ensure that more people get the shot than may otherwise have done in past years. In this way, it is possible to take proactive steps towards fighting the spread of COVID-19 by keeping a person healthy.

If you need a flu shot, reach out to a local medical health professional for more information.


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