Pharmacist stresses importance of Flu Vaccine amid COVID-19 pandemic

Pharmacist stresses importance of Flu Vaccine amid COVID-19 pandemic

Policy begins tomorrow.

It's almost september and the fall season is approaching quickly.

This means flu season is coming.

Because symptoms of covid-19 and the flu are so similar... it may cause a lot of misconceptions.

News 10's dominic miranda spoke with a local pharmacist today.

He explains what you need to know ahead of the flu season.

Do} even though the focus of the nation has been on covid-19 for the past 6 months... flu season is still coming.

Pharmacist manager here at vigo health pharmacy in terre haute alpesh patel told me..

Getting the flu and covid-19 at the same time is possible... and the effects of this are still unknown.

He explained what the pharmacy is doing to prepare... and why getting getting a flu shot this season is more important than ever.

Patel told me because of covid-19, vigo health pharmacy is changing a lot of their protocols to make sure people feel safe coming in.

He says he knows some people are concerned about coming to the pharmacy.

They don't want to put themselves at an unnecessary risk to get covid-19'or something else.

While giving flu vaccines, pharmacy employees will be wearing ppe and sanitizing everything before and after each patient comes in.

He says they want to make it as convenient as possible and minimize all concern for customers the flu vaccine is available right now for people ages 6months to 65 years old.

The vaccine for people over 65 years old is not yet available.

Patel did have some advice for you at home ahead of flu season.

"if you're healthy, just get it.

Don't wait until you become sick.

If you're sick, go to the doctor, get some medical advice, or call your pharmacist.

Covid-19... a lot of things are still unknown.

But the flu-influenza season is every year.

It's going to be there."

Do} patel stressed to me to only come and get the flu shot if you're healthy.

Not if you're sick.

Again, it is possible to get both covid-19 and the flu at the same time... and the effects of this are unknown.

So patel says it's imperative to protect yourself in some way... and get the flu shot before flu season is in full force in terre haute.

I'm dominic miranda news 10