Together with our partners Healthy InUtah, FOX 13 is helping get the word out about the importance of getting your flu shot this year.
The flu can hit suddenly and typically makes you feel rotten for 3 to 5 days. However, it can be dangerous for young children, older adults, and others with certain health conditions. To protect yourself and your community, you need a flu shot every year.
This year, however, we are also faced with another infectious disease that has very similar symptoms, COVID-19. Tamara Sheffield, MD, Intermountain Healthcare explains that many of the same resources used in hospitals to care for influenza patients are being used for COVID-19 patients, so it is more important than ever for everyone in Utah to receive their annual flu vaccine.
So who can be vaccinated? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises everyone ages 6 months and older to receive an annual flu vaccination.
There are a variety of options when it comes to your flu vaccine:
• Quadrivalent regular dose injectable (or "shot")
• Intranasal or nasal spray ("FluMist" is a brand name)
• High Dose quadrivalent for people age 65+ years
The best way to find the vaccine that is right for you is to consult with your doctor or pharmacist.
For more information go to intermountainhealthcare.org or inutah.org/healthy.
