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To avoid cross-infection of flu and COVID-19, doctors will recommend flu shots. But many people have doubts about vaccination: “Do I still need to get a flu shot after being vaccinated against COVID-19?”, “Can the two vaccines be inoculated together? Will it be bad for my body?”, “Is an interval needed between a flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine?”. The following will reveal the answers to the questions on flu vaccines and COVID-19 vaccine.
What is Seasonal Influenza?
Why should I get a flu shot?
“Seasonal influenza” is an acute respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus. It is mainly transmitted through droplets. In Hong Kong, influenza is generally prevalent from January to March in winter and July and August in summer. People generally believe that flu is not that different from the common cold, but this is wrong! Symptoms of influenza are more severe than common cold and can lead to very serious complications or mild to severe illness, and even death. Therefore, seasonal influenza vaccination is one of the effective ways to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, and can also reduce the cases of hospitalization and death due to influenza.
What’s the difference between COVID-19 and seasonal influenza?
The COVID-19 pandemic is still persisting, but seasonal influenza cannot be overlooked. Both are caused by viral infections, and the symptoms of influenza and COVID-19 are very similar.
COVID-19 | Influenza | |
|---|---|---|
Symptoms | Fever, sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal pain and diarrhea, nausea, muscle ache | Fever, sore throat, dry cough, fatigue, muscle ache, severe complications include pneumonia, encephalitis, myocarditis and other secondary Infection or neurological symptoms, etc., and may cause death |
Incubation Period | 3 – 10 days | About 1 – 4 days |
Epidemic Seasons | Throughout the year | Throughout the year, the peak period is from November to March |
Mode of Transmission | Airborne infection: inhalation of larger respiratory secretion particles in the air or smaller infectious particles suspended in the air for a long time.Contact infection: contact with infectious respiratory secretions on skin and environmental surfaces, then contact with eyes or nose. | Airborne infection: inhalation of larger respiratory secretion particles in the air or smaller infectious particles suspended in the air for a long time.Contact infection: contact with infectious respiratory secretions on skin and environmental surfaces, then contact with eyes or nose. |