December can be a whirlwind. Life is busy enough with active kids, aging parents, and a full home life. Add in all the holiday hubbub, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Even so, making time to get vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 is important, and simpler than you might think. Really!
The trick is to avoid being misled by these common misconceptions about getting this season’s flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
MYTH: Making an appointment is a huge hassle.
REALITY: Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are readily available at most pharmacies. Often, you don’t need an appointment. Better yet – you can get both vaccinations at the same time.
MYTH: If I do get sick, it will be mild and short-lived.
REALITY: There’s no way to predict how severe flu or COVID-19 symptoms might be or how long they could last if you get sick. Plus, you don’t want to risk missing out on holiday festivities or travel due to illness. Play it safe instead and get vaccinated.
MYTH: At this point, it’s too late in the season to get vaccinated.
REALITY: Nope. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu season usually peaks between December and March – but can continue until as late as May1. So, even though it’s already well into the winter season, getting vaccinated can still provide you with valuable protection. And since COVID-19 can surge throughout the year2, the CDC recommends updating your COVID-19 vaccine as needed.
In the 2023-2024 flu season, vaccines prevented more than nine million cases of the flu, as well as four million medical visits, over 130,000 hospitalizations, and 6,700 flu-related deaths3. And COVID-19 vaccines cut hospitalization rates in half4. Don’t make excuses for not getting vaccinated. Avoid being sidelined by illness this holiday season and keep your life running smoothly by getting vaccinated against flu and COVID-19. You’ll be happy you did.
Risk less. Do more. Get this season’s vaccines.
Click here to find out where to get vaccinated.
Sources:
1 https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevention/misconceptions.html
2 https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/covid-19-can-surge-throughout-the-year.html
3 https://www.cdc.gov/flu/whats-new/flu-summary-2023-2024.html
4 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/pdfs/mm7308a5-H.pdf
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