KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Health officials are reminding people to get a flu shot to avoid a double impact of flu and coronavirus.
The effects on a person with both influenza and COVID-19 are not known, but Julie Richards with Swope Health said both viruses mimic each other.
Richards, who serves as director of infection prevention and control for Swope Health, said nationwide flu vaccinations are above 50 percent but they should be above 75 percent.
She hopes the pandemic makes people take flu vaccines seriously.
“I do think that the pandemic has probably frightened people into the unknown because we didn’t know what COVID was and we kind of know what flu is. So I think people might take it more seriously and go, I can prevent this one because I can’t this one now, so let me get the one I can," Richards said.
She explained precautions people are taking to avoid coronavirus could help against the flu.
“Flu is also transmitted via droplet, like COVID. So wearing (a mask) when we’re out and about is actually good. We might see flu cases actually go down because of the preventative measures we’re doing for COVID," Richards said.
People are encouraged to get vaccinated between now and October.
