$44 video appointments available today with a membership as low as $15/month
Book a Video AppointmentThis is a question HealthTap doctors often hear, so we want to be clear about the answer: Yes.
What's more, when you get your flu shot this year, you should also get a "bivalent" COVID-19 booster shot, as long as you are more than five years old and it's been at least two months since your last COVID-19 vaccination. The bivalent COVID-19 vaccine will protect you from the latest Omicron subvariants, namely BA.4 and BA.5.
Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, is a serious illness that affects almost everyone at some point in their life. Millions of people catch it every year.
And while most recover on their own at home, serious complications can happen. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that the flu has caused as many as 810,000 hospitalizations and 61,000 deaths in the U.S. annually since 2010.
Yes. The flu and COVID-19 are different viruses. The flu vaccine won’t protect you from COVID-19 and a COVID-19 vaccine won’t protect you from the flu.
Yes. It's possible to catch the flu and COVID-19 at the same time. The resulting impact, according to Johns Hopkins, could be more severe than that of either disease on its own.
Influenza affects everyone differently. But the precautions you should take are the same:
All of these things can help reduce your chances of getting the flu.
The good news is that flu shots are inexpensive and, in some cases, free. You can get a flu shot at most pharmacies without an appointment. If you don’t have health insurance, shop around for the lowest price; it’s often available for about $20.
Searching for a free flu shot? Check your local community resources for information about free clinics. For example, you can often find free flu shot clinics at county health departments and on college campuses. Local libraries also host free flu shot clinics.
Two weeks after you get the flu shot, your body develops antibodies — proteins that attach to viruses and protect you against certain flu strains.
Flu vaccines are called “quadrivalent” because they help protect against four different strains of the virus:
There is also a “trivalent” vaccine that protects against two influenza A viruses and one influenza B virus. These viruses are adapting and changing all the time, which is why it’s recommended that most people get a flu shot every year — you need the latest vaccine “cocktail” to protect against that year’s slate of viruses.
Ideally, people should be vaccinated early during flu season (October or earlier). But vaccinations should continue through February or later.
It’s important to seek medical advice if you develop flu-like symptoms, so that you get the care you need. To speak with a doctor from the comfort and safety of your home, schedule a virtual consult in HealthTap’s virtual primary care clinic. Your visit is only $39 (or your copay) with a HealthTap subscription.
You should get a flu shot even if you’ve already had the flu this season, according to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
That’s because the vaccine protects against three or four different flu viruses, depending on which vaccine you get. So, even if you’ve had the flu once, it’s only one strain of the virus — any of the other three strains could still make you sick.
Talk to a HealthTap doctor if you have any concerns or want to learn more. HealthTap subscribers can schedule virtual primary care visits with U.S.-based, board-certified doctors seven days a week.
Everyone six months and older should get a flu shot this season.
The only people who should NOT get an influenza vaccine are people who:
Some people have a higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications. The illness is more likely to lead to hospitalization or even death for these people, but the vaccine may provide added protection. These people are considered high-risk:
Additionally, people with the following chronic health conditions are considered high-risk and could benefit from taking the flu shot:
Getting the influenza vaccine is all about maximizing your odds of staying healthy during flu season. Even if you get vaccinated and practice good health habits, you could still get the flu.
The effectiveness of the vaccine depends on several factors like age, medical history, and the “match” between the viruses used to make the vaccine and those circulating within a community.
The potential benefits are significant, however. According to the CDC, “Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death in children.”
Got questions about the flu shot? HealthTap doctors are here to help. Schedule a visit in our primary care clinic and get your questions answered.