Six months since the pandemic brought Illinois to a sudden halt, a new threat is on the horizon and it could prove to be an even deadlier fall. With flu season just weeks away, doctors are urging their patients now more than ever to get a flu shot and get it early. 

“Flu shots are essential every year, but this year the game has changed. Everyone should make it a priority to get a flu shot now. It takes a few weeks for the vaccine to build up your immunity, so the earlier you can get one, the better,” says Dr. Chris Colbert, Assistant Program Director of the emergency medicine residency program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. 

Why the urgency? Doctors across the US are worried about the potential of what is being referred to as a “Twindemic,” COVID-19 colliding with cold and flu season. Although getting the flu shot does not prevent COVID it can help doctors rule the flu out. 

“The flu can present in a lot of the same ways as COVID-19, fever, headache, sore throat, so by knowing our patient has had a flu shot we can start to assess more quickly what may be causing these symptoms and treat appropriately,” adds Dr. Colbert. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last year’s flu season was responsible for upwards of 740,000 hospitalizations and 62,000 deaths across the US. While the efficacy of the flu vaccine is between 40 and 60-percent, even if you do contract either strain, the likelihood of your symptoms being severe are drastically lowered. 

“The flu can be deadly, oftentimes people become lax and think it will never happen to them. But the flu can lead to complications such as pneumonia which in certain populations, younger children, the elderly, or those with chronic conditions it can prove fatal,” warns Dr. Colbert. 

Emergency room physicians across the US are preparing for an onslaught of patients this fall. Already they are seeing an influx of younger patients being brought in to get tested for COVID-19 since the school year began. 

So how do you know if you have the flu or COVID? According to the CDC, it can be hard to tell as both respiratory illnesses can present with the same symptoms. The notable difference with COVID is many have reported a loss of both taste and smell but not all. It is important if you are feeling sick to contact your doctor and self-quarantine if you are exhibiting symptoms.