Flu season will be here before you know it, but unlike last year, it may look a little different. At the start of the 2020 flu season, we were well versed in COVID-19 protocols. Personal protective equipment (PPE), social distancing and stay at home orders were in place to help flatten the curve of the pandemic. However, because we maintained these protocols, influenza was practically nonexistent in the 2020-2021 season. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the 2019-2020 season had an estimated 38 million flu cases. Last year, however, there were only 2,038 reported cases.
Jump to today. States are beginning to open up, restrictions are diminishing, and the CDC recently published new guidelines for those who have been fully vaccinated. So, what does this mean for this year’s flu season? Will it hit harder? How can we prepare?
While we can’t predict with 100% certainty what this year’s season will bring, experts are calling for a harsher go this time around. If last year’s numbers taught us anything, it’s that PPE and social distancing works, but social isolation is not a long-term solution. Practices such as washing hands and surfaces and staying home when sick will make a huge impact, but one of the best lines of defense you can call on is your annual flu shot. It has a proven track record of weakening symptoms and keeping individuals out of the hospital. It offers the protection you and your loved ones deserve.
As a health and wellness provider for over 15 years, our vaccination services let us help you take the first step in gearing up for this year’s flu season. Our offerings include quadrivalent, high dose and preservative free influenza vaccine. Contact us today to secure your supply and protect your population.
