{"id":81479,"date":"2020-10-02T10:00:10","date_gmt":"2020-10-02T14:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=81479"},"modified":"2021-11-08T17:47:59","modified_gmt":"2021-11-08T22:47:59","slug":"hoosiers-urged-to-get-flu-vaccines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2020\/10\/02\/hoosiers-urged-to-get-flu-vaccines\/","title":{"rendered":"Hoosiers urged to get flu vaccines"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Indiana State Department of Health news release:<\/p>\n

ISDH health officials urge Hoosiers to get flu vaccines<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

INDIANAPOLIS (October 2, 2020) \u2014 The Indiana Department of Health is encouraging Hoosiers to get vaccinated against influenza to help protect them from the contagious respiratory illness that sickens thousands of Hoosiers each year and claimed more than 130 lives in the 2019-2020 flu season.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting a flu shot is more important than ever this year as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG. \u201cInfluenza is a respiratory illness that, along with COVID, could easily overwhelm the healthcare system if we see a large number of cases, so I urge every Hoosier who is eligible to get vaccinated.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age 6 months and older get a flu vaccine each year. Dr. Box said that because infants under 6 months can\u2019t be vaccinated, it\u2019s important that anyone in a household where a young baby lives or visits get a flu shot to protect the child. Healthcare workers also are urged to get a flu vaccine to reduce their risk of transmitting illness to their patients. <\/p>\n

COVID-19 and influenza are both contagious respiratory illnesses that are spread primarily by respiratory droplets released when infected people cough, sneeze, talk, laugh or sing, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, while the flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing may be needed to confirm a diagnosis.<\/p>\n

The measures recommended to prevent the spread of influenza are similar to those recommended for helping Hoosiers prevent the spread of coronavirus. They are as follows:<\/p>\n