Annual Flu and COVID-19 Vaccinations Available at Southcentral Foundation
By Southcentral Foundation Corporate Communications
October brings about many things: the end to the fall colors, children anticipating Halloween costumes, and the first snowfall typically to blanket the ground. It is also the unofficial start of the flu season.
Seasonal influenza, also known as the flu, is an illness that causes fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, and body aches. It is usually spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing.
Influenza and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a coronavirus. Flu is caused by infection with an influenza virus.
The best way to safeguard you and your family against the flu and COVID-19 is to get vaccinated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a yearly flu vaccine and updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older with rare exceptions. The reason for this is that a person’s immune protection from vaccination declines over time, so an annual vaccination is needed to get the best protection against these viruses. Additionally, viruses are constantly changing, so vaccine composition is reviewed each year and updated as needed.
It is safe to receive COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same visit. Southcentral Foundation offers these vaccines at all primary care clinics.
Help keep you, your family, and the community safe by getting your annual flu and COVID-19 vaccines. For more information on recommended vaccines, talk with your primary care provider.