CHICAGO - The 2020 influenza (flu) season is quickly approaching and health officials along with healthcare workers are urging Americans to get their yearly influenza vaccinations before late fall when the number of flu cases typically start to increase.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Chicago Department of Public Health recognize that flu vaccinations may be the best way to prevent hospitals and the rest of the healthcare system from being overwhelmed with both flu and COVID-19 patients later this year.

Dr. Lisa Russell, a certified expert in internal medicine and infectious diseases at Mount Sinai Hospital, located at 1500 S. Fairfield Ave. on Chicago’s West Side, said, “I think anything that we can do to prevent people from having to access medical care, and keeping them healthy, will be helpful to the medical systems that are gearing up to take care of people if there is another COVID resurgence.”

A photo of Mount Sinai Hospital located 1500 S Fairfield Ave on Chicago’s West Side. Photo Courtesy Sinai Health System.

Although the fall is commonly referred to as the start of influenza season, Dr. Russell explained doctors and others in the medical field cannot exactly project when the uptick in influenza cases will occur. She said, “I think now is a good time as any to start vaccinating people. We can never really predict when influenza season will start, so we always feel that it's better for people to have their vaccines and be ready for the season when it hits.”

As you prepare to get your seasonal influenza shot during the COVID-19 pandemic, here is what you should know about COVID-19 and influenza.

The similarities between the two diseases according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and medical professionals

Both COVID-19 and influenza are respiratory illnesses. People with influenza and COVID-19 may be asymptomatic, have a fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle pain, and other symptoms. Both viruses can also cause complications that can lead to death.

“I think that's another reason that we're really trying to get people vaccinated this year,” Dr. Russell explained. “And I think it's really hard for us as doctors and caregivers, and also for patients to be able to tell the difference between the two viruses, because there's lots of overlap in symptoms.”

The differences between the two diseases according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and medical professionals

Although the infectious diseases expert shared there is a lot of overlap in symptoms, there are some differences, and one symptom has proven to be distinct to COVID-19.

“I think the one unique symptom that kind of stands out a little bit that seems to be specific, if you will, for the COVID infection is the loss of taste or smell. And that doesn't seem to be very common at all in people with influenza, but it is pretty common in folks with COVID,” she explained.

The CDC links loss of taste and smell to COVID -19 as well. Another important difference the government agency shared on their website is both illnesses are caused by different viruses. The flu is caused by one of the influenza viruses. Conversely, COVID-19 is an infection caused by the novel coronavirus also known as SARS-CoV-2.

Additionally, a person that has contracted COVID-19 could take longer to show symptoms in comparison to someone who has been infected with influenza. Usually people with influenza begin showing signs one to four days after being infected whereas those that are COVID -19 positive may start to show symptoms as late as 14 days after contracting the illness.

Vaccinations

Although there is still no vaccination for COVID-19, there are treatments to help provide immunity against influenza. The influenza vaccination is usually referred to as the flu shot. According to Dr. Lisa Russell, flu shots are pieces of protein given to patients to create an immune response if they are exposed to the virus.

“In my opinion, the biggest misconception that we have is that it causes people to get the flu.” She later continued, “that flu vaccine does not have any parts of the virus that can actually cause the flu. It’s just bits of the virus, not an intact virus itself.”

According to Dr. Russell, a small percentage of people get sick after receiving the flu shot and that the most common side effect of the vaccination is arm pain where the vaccination is injected. Moreover, it is possible that some people may become sick after receiving the vaccination; however, it is usually not severe, and may correlate to patients receiving the vaccination during a time when more people around them are sick.

Someone is receiving a seasonal influenza vaccine commonly known as the flu shot. The Photo is courtesy the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH).

Prevention
Besides vaccination, the best way to avoid getting influenza is similar to what people may already be doing to avoid COVID -19. Doctors recommend practicing healthy hygiene practices such as washing your hands. They also encourage the public to practice social distancing and to wear masks.

Dr. Russell said, “I think wearing masks are extremely effective, both to prevent somebody from getting sick, but also to prevent somebody who may have the illness and not even know it from spreading it to others.” She continued, “I think just washing your hands is also a helpful measure to decrease transmission risk. If you are able, you know, depending on the circumstances of the gathering, trying to be at least six feet apart from others is also shown to be effective and decreased transmission, again for both the COVID infection and also influenza.”

Another way to prevent influenza and even COVID-19 is by staying informed about both. Hospitals throughout the city such as Mount Sinai Hospital work with patients to help them get a better understanding of the two viruses spreading awareness through appointments or social media.

“I think also just working a lot with our patients to get them or help them to understand mechanisms to keep themselves safe, and free of infection for both COVID and the flu, because I think preventing one also helps to prevent the other,” the physician shared.

Another key way to prevent COVID-19 is by gathering outside; however, as the Chicago winter and holidays approaches it may be hard to have outdoor gatherings. In these circumstances, Dr. Russell suggests creating what she refers to as an “isolation pod.” An isolation pod is a group of family or friends that you can be around indoors. Everyone in this group should limit their contact with people that aren't a part of the group so that COVID-19 and Influenza are not transmitted to members of the group.

Impact

COVID-19 continues to affect Black and Brown communities on the West Side and the South Side of Chicago more than other communities. One reason is because of the lack of access to healthcare in those areas; consequently public officials are trying to find other ways to help the community.

The Chicago Department of Public Health has shared resources on where people can get flu shots and COVID -19 testing. The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services in collaboration with Jewel-Osco Pharmacy has even hosted free flu clinics targeting Seniors on Chicago’s South and West Side.

Dr. Russell who works within the West Side community said, “I think this infection has really brought to the forefront the impact that those inequities have, and just a stark, obvious, you know, way that the number of people affected and the depths in our communities is hard for people to ignore. So, I think this is something that we've, we've always known here at Sinai and do our best to try to help equalize things as best we can.”

A graph showing how people with underlying chronic conditions are more likely to die from COVID-19. Photo Courtesy www.chicago.gov

Not only has COVID- 19 had an impact on Black and Brown communities, but influenza has also affected these areas. The same underlying health issues that caused COVID-19 to disproportionately affect the South and West Side, are the same underlying health issues that make contracting the flu harmful and even deadly.

“A lot of the underlying medical conditions tend to affect our communities on the West Side here more than others. And those are risk factors, not only for COVID, infection and disease severity, but also for the flu,” Dr. Russell explained.

Although she does recognize that many people may not have access to doctors, and views medical access as an area the healthcare industry can grow in, Dr. Russell encourages those who do have access to get a primary care physician.

“I think, you know, seeking somebody out and getting care and treatment for a disease before it becomes problematic is always a better way to tackle medical conditions than wait until there's a big problem that is oftentimes more difficult to handle.”

She also would like to remind people that they are the consumers, and do not have to settle. If patients do not connect with a certain doctor or feel as if their questions are not being answered, patients have every right to find a new physician.

More info

For more information on Covid-19 here are some local and national websites to check.
https://www.cdc.gov/

https://www.cdc.gov/

https://www.dph.illinois.gov/

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdph.html

https://www.sinai.org/ or any hospital near you

Preparing for the Flu Season During COVID -19 Pandemic