With all of the spotlight on the current COVID-19 Pandemic, it would be easy to miss the fact that we are about to enter the flu season.  As we get ready to shift gears, health officials are urging people to consider getting a flu vaccine this fall to help combat the issue.

The importance of combating the general flu is important - no matter what year it is.  According to news sources, last years flu numbers bear witness to this:

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that influenza was associated with 39 to 56 million illnesses, 410,000-740,000 hospitalizations, 24,000-62,000 total deaths and 169 pediatric deaths during the 2019-20 flu season."

The worry with the 2020-2021 flu season is of infection on top of COVID-19; Medical officials are warning the public about the dangers of a "one-two punch" in regards to getting sick (i.e. coming down with the flu in addition to COVID-19, the extra medical facility traffic that could be generated with it, the symptom-confusion that could ensue, etc.)

The common flu is a living, evolving infection.  Each year, health experts assemble a vaccine to best-combat what their projected match is for the common strain. News sources show that health officials believe that this years vaccine is about 50% effective; but, those same officials are saying to not let that percentage rate determine whether or not you get the vaccine; they agree that any chance of preventing the flu infection is better than no chance (not getting the vaccine).

The good news?  The flu vaccine is readily-available, with a wide variety of options available for patients.  Clinics and pharmacy's are the common sites where people get the vaccine, however some workplaces and schools also bring in health officials to their sites to administer the vaccinations.

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