Flu season 2021: What to expect as COVID continues

You probably haven’t heard too much about flu season last year, as the COVID-19 pandemic has taken over the usual fall and winter viruses. But while you can still focus on the coronavirus (as you should be), flu season is just around the corner.

Below, the experts share their predictions for flu season, how your immune system may be affected, and what to do to stay as healthy as possible:

This is mainly because influenza activity was unusually low last year. 2020 saw the lowest influenza hospitalization rate since tThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began collecting data in 2005. Only one pediatric death has been reported, up from 199 during the 2019-2020 influenza season.

“In my own practice, I haven’t seen as many cases of the flu last year as I normally would,” said There is stewart, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians and family physician of Eau Claire Co-operative Health Centers in Columbia, South Carolina. “There are a number of reasons why it could have been, but things like wearing a mask, social distancing, practicing good handwashing hygiene and staying home. when feeling sick probably had a profound impact on the last flu season. “

“It’s true that when the immune system is exposed to bacteria and viruses, it learns how to fight disease better,” said Norman Moore, director of scientific affairs for infectious diseases in Abbott’s Rapid Diagnostics business. “But there is no evidence to suggest that the public health measures adopted by many Americans during this pandemic will make us more vulnerable to viruses like the flu.”

Instead, think of all this social distancing as a pause for our immune systems to learn new ways to defend ourselves rather than a step backwards, Moore said.

The only social distancing disadvantage that can affect your likelihood of getting the flu? If you respect social distancing by avoiding regular meetings with your health care providers. Stewart said those who may have canceled elective medical visits last year due to the pandemic and remain cautious about entering the office or a pharmacy to get a flu shot are doing more harm than good when it comes to protecting oneself and others.

“Respiratory infections are spread through the air through coughs and those who don’t wash their hands often and touch their face, letting the virus enter through the mouth or nose,” said Stewart.

So, as restrictions on masking and social distancing eased this summer, the possibility of the spread of germs increased, which likely created flu cases during the months of June, July and August.

While the influenza virus circulates more freely in low humidity, which makes the indoor winter months a fertile ground, it is possible to contract the flu at any time of the year. Because of this, Stewart said flu shots are rolling out as early as mid-September, which may seem premature to some people, but it’s a crucial time to get the shot if you’re able.

Because the flu and COVID-19 have a similar set of symptoms including fever, chills, cough, fatigue, and body aches – self-diagnosing when you’re not feeling well can be an impossible feat. .

One of the differentiators between the two, according to the World Health Organization, is the serial interval (the time between successive cases) of each virus. But even that is difficult to determine if you don’t know where you may have contracted the virus from. Symptoms of COVID-19 take about five or six days to appear, while symptoms of the flu virus appear on about day three on average.

“Even if you’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu, it’s crucial to determine the source of your illness,” Moore said. “If you have severe flu-like symptoms and / or are immunocompromised, talk to your health care provider about getting tested for the flu right away. Antiviral treatments for the flu work best within 48 hours of symptom onset. If you have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19, a rapid home test followed by clinical molecular testing is the best way to rule out a viral infection. “

“The immune system is strengthened with a flu shot,” said Stewart. “Also, because immunity to the flu vaccine wanes after a year and the flu variants change from season to season, it’s important to stay on top of getting the flu shot each year.”

Moore and Stewart both agreed that while predicted flu rates may increase this year, the first thing you can do to protect yourself is get a flu shot.

“Getting the flu shot every year is the most effective way to protect yourself from the flu,” Moore said. “An influenza vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, but it has many other important benefits, including reduced severe influenza and hospitalizations, which can help ease the burden on the health care system during the pandemic. “