Flu Shot- Where to Get It

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Flu Shot Needed More than Ever in Light of Covid

Flu Shot- Where to Get It

2020 is Almost Over, but Flu Season Isn’t!




By Dr. Margaret E. McCort, Montefiore Health System 

Bronx Voice

December 8, 2020


2020 is almost over, but don’t worry - it’s not too late to get your flu shot. In fact, it’s still helpful! 


Each year, a new version of the flu shot is introduced around September, aimed at protecting against the flu strains that will circulate during that year’s flu season. Typically, the flu season runs from September until March. Even in December, the flu shot is still very effective and very important. 


As we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic this year, getting your flu shot is more important than ever. Like COVID-19, influenza spreads easily through close casual contact and can be spread before you realize you’re sick. Symptoms of the flu are similar to those of COVID-19, so if you develop a cough or fever, you should talk to your doctor about getting tested for both.


A flu shot could help you avoid long lines for testing and long waits in urgent care or emergency departments due to an influx of people with COVID-19. Plus, getting the flu shot also protects others around you, like your elderly neighbors, a family member with cancer, and young children in your community.


As an infectious disease specialist, I often hear “myths” about the flu shot. Sometimes I meet people who say they don’t usually get the shot: they don’t usually get sick and they don’t need one this year. While you may not have gotten sick with flu in the recent past, there’s no guarantee you won’t get ill this year. It would be better to have the flu shot, which is scientifically proven to reduce your chance of hospitalization from the flu.


Another myth I hear often is that the flu shot makes you sick. The flu vaccine does not contain any live virus, so you cannot catch the flu from the vaccine. Some people may have a mild reaction with aches and fever for about 24 hours after vaccination. This is a sign that the immune system is responding appropriately to the vaccine and is a much milder reaction than the actual flu.


Years of research show that the shot is extremely safe and effective. Serious reactions to this shot are exceedingly rare. The vaccine has been shown to reduce your risk of dying from the flu, if you do get sick during that season. For these reasons, the seasonal influenza vaccine is recommended for every person over the age of 6 months old, every year. Due to its safety profile, the flu shot is recommended for pregnant women, organ transplant patients, and people with weakened immune systems from cancer.


With so many reasons to stay healthy this year, make time this December to get your flu shot!

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