SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Public Health is reminding people to get their annual flu shot.
It’s recommended that everyone six months and older receive the flu vaccine, and it’s especially important as the pandemic continues, according to State Public Health Spokesperson Melaney Arnold.
“You can get sick the flu and COVID at the same time, so a double whammy. Your best bet, and your best protection, is to get vaccinated for each of them…get your vaccination for COVID-19 and the vaccination for the flu,” Arnold said.
This year’s vaccine offers protection against four strains of the flu. If you haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 yet, you can get that at the same time as your flu shot, Arnold adds.
Symptoms for the flu and COVID are similar. And, for the doubters…
“It’s been scientifically proven that you cannot get the flu from the flu shot. If you’ve been exposed to the flu shortly before or immediately after getting the flu shot, before your body has time to build up immunity to it, you can get the flu,” Arnold said.
For information on the flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccine from the IDPH, click HERE.
