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Flu Vaccines:
More Important Than Ever

Louise Britton with a jar of salmon
Southcentral Foundation Elder Resource Specialist Louise Britton works through the flu season. Here, she packs a jar of salmon for food kits given to Alaska Native Elders in the Anchorage area.

Receiving a flu vaccine this winter may be more important than ever. The vaccine not only reduces your risk of getting the flu, but protects children, Elders, and those who are most vulnerable. The flu vaccine may also help prevent being infected with both COVID-19 and influenza at the same time, which may cause severe illness or death for those who are at a higher risk. Getting vaccinated also helps to preserve health care resources.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses for everyone 6 months of age and older. The flu vaccination can help prevent you from getting the flu or reduce the severity and duration if you do. Practicing hand hygiene, covering your cough, wearing a mask, and physical distancing from others with the flu may help slow the spread but the best way to fight the flu is to get vaccinated.

The CDC recommended that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October. Getting vaccinated too early (for example, in July or August) is likely to be associated with reduced protection against flu infection later in the flu season, particularly among older adults.

“Flu vaccines are safe and are the best protection to prevent getting sick from the flu, and to help protect others. Now is the best time to get a flu vaccination,” said SCF Senior Medical Director of Quality Assurance Dr. Donna Galbreath.

Protect and respect everyone in the community this flu season by getting the flu vaccine
Though they are different types of viruses, influenza and COVID-19 are both respiratory illnesses and may present with similar symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, and sore muscles. If you are experiencing symptoms or have questions, contact your medical provider.

The CDC believes it’s likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both be spreading this fall and winter. In this context, getting a flu vaccine will be more important than ever to help prevent the possibility of getting the flu and COVID-19 at the same time.

Protect and respect everyone in the community this flu season by getting the flu vaccine and maintaining immunization schedules, wearing a mask, and practicing safety measures. Working together, we can keep Alaskans healthy.

— Southcentral Foundation
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