With COVID-19 looming and influenza season approaching, Banner Health medical experts urge people to make sure to get a flu shot this year to protect themselves and others.
Flu season will coincide with COVID-19 this year, and medical experts are concerned that could overwhelm a health care system that has been tested by the pandemic. Additionally, the prospect of contracting the flu and COVID-19 at the same time could prove fatal for people most at risk of complications from either virus.
“It is difficult because influenza and COVID-19 will coincide this year and the symptoms are very similar,” said Marsha Hamner, MD, regional medical director with Banner Northern Colorado hospitalists. “It is hard to tell the difference. The main way (to tell the difference) is testing. The number of influenza and COVID cases could further overwhelm our health care systems.” Dr. Hamner said getting a flu shot could prevent or lessen the severity of illness and help keep people out of the hospitals.
The prospect of a co-infection, when someone contracts the flu and the coronavirus, could also be very dangerous she said. Dr. Hamner said that getting a flu shot will not make people more susceptible to getting the flu or COVID and if someone is suffering from flu-like or COVID symptoms they should get tested because the symptoms are so similar. “It is imperative this year that everyone get their flu shot,” Dr. Hamner said. “I’d encourage patients to be more diligent in seeking care for respiratory illnesses this year as we will have two potentially serious viral illnesses circulating simultaneously.”
Banner Health will offer outdoor walk-up curbside flu shots for people starting in September throughout Northern Colorado. For more information visit https://www.bannerhealth.com/staying-well/health-andwellness/wellness/flu.
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About Banner Health Headquartered in Phoenix, Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system owns and operates 28 acute-care hospitals, Banner Health Network, Banner – University Medicine, academic and employed physician groups, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services; including Banner Urgent Care, family clinics, home care and hospice services, pharmacies and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit www.BannerHealth.com.
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