Page 18 - TR RVO Extra 2020

18SS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE THREE RIVERS AND RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITIONS OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE • EXTRA
HEALTH
Why the
flu shot
is so important in 2020
Millions of people across the globe get flu shots each year. Flu shots protect people against influenza, but they might provide even greater benefits in 2020.
As the world continues to confront the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, it’s imperative that people everywhere take every step necessary to protect themselves and others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that a flu vaccine will not protect people against COVID-19. However, flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of illness related to the flu. Those illnesses weaken people’s immune systems, making them more vulnerable to other viruses, including COVID-19.
“Patients suffering from the novel coronavirus experience a wide range of effects,” said Jeremiah Rutherford, M.D., FACP and medical director of the department of hospital medicine at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Russellville. “We know that the virus can put a patient’s immune system into overdrive, which may be one reason some people have such severe disease. COVID-19 may also cause chronic lung damage in some patients, which will predispose them to other lung infections in the future.”
Flu vaccines have also been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization. That’s a significant benefit of being vaccinated, as people who get flu shots can indirectly help hospitals conserve potentially scarce resources. As the
COVID-19 virus rapidly spread late in the winter of 2019-20, many hospitals around the country and the globe were stretched incredibly thin. So anything ordinary citizens can do to alleviate such burdens can help save lives, while also making hospital workers’ jobs easier and less stressful.
“Flu season can start as early as September and typically goes through March or April,” Rutherford said. “Once you get your flu shot, it may take up to four or more weeks to develop the antibodies that protect you against the flu. Getting your flu shot as early as possible ensures that you will have time to develop those flu-specific antibodies before you are actually exposed to the virus.”
Many people may be concerned about going out and getting a flu shot in 2020. That’s especially likely for people who live in communities where the COVID-19 virus is spreading. However, the CDC notes that getting a flu shot in 2020 is an essential part of protecting your health and the health of your family.
“The most important thing for people to remember is that the flu is still out there and dangerous for at-risk populations,” said Dr. Blake Dixon, a family-medicine provider with a certificate of added qualification in sports medicine, who sees patients at the White River Health System’s Midway Medical Clinic in Cherokee Village.
Flu shots protect people against influenza, but they might provide even greater benefits in 2020.
“There has never been a more important time to get your flu vaccine.”
Many doctor’s offices are now insisting that patients wait in their cars until doctors are ready to see them, and masks may be required when entering the doctor’s office. Such measures can reduce the risk of getting the COVID-19 virus when visiting a doctor’s office for a flu shot or another reason, so patients should not be hesitant to receive their vaccinations in 2020. Patients can follow such protocols even if their doctors do not insist that they do so. The same safety measures can be followed by people who intend to get their flu shots from neighborhood pharmacies.
“Any person with a pre-existing medical condition is at higher risk for complications due to flu,” Rutherford said. “If you have heart disease, underlying lung disease, diabetes or cancer, you are at an elevated risk for more severe complications of flu.”
Flu shots are vital to individual and public health every year, but the importance of being vaccinated against influenza in 2020 is heightened as the world continues to confront the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative, with contributions by Cody Graves, creative services writer