Coronavirus: What it means to get your flu shot during COVID-19? Here's everything you should know

It has been over 8 months since the novel coronavirus began casting its shadows over the lives of millions of people. Now, with the seasonal flu and allergies looming over our heads, we are set to fight two combined forces of diseases that are not just harmful but deadly. While without the availability of a clinically approved vaccine for COVID-19, the fight against the deadly virus is still far off and impossible. However, we must make sure that we get our flu shots available to us at large.

Here is everything you should know about getting your flu shot during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, many people have overlooked other health conditions and only focused on protecting themselves from COVID-19. While it is important to prevent the spread of the virus and protect oneself from the disease, it is also important to get your flu shots on time. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), between 140,000 and 810,000 people are hospitalized annually with flu. Therefore, by getting yourself vaccinated, you're making space for COVID-19 patients to get extra attention and encouraging a faster recovery.

While the flu and COVID-19 are respiratory illnesses and carry the same type of symptoms, many people believe that both these diseases are the same. However, they are not identical at all. As per experts, COVID-19 seems to create a much more intense inflammatory response in the body. It can result in blood clotting and scarring and progresses from mild to worse. On the other hand, the flu can take a toll on a person's well being, but the number of deaths in its case is much lesser compared to that in coronavirus patients.

Well, if you're someone who believes the flu and the coronavirus are the same, you ought to think that flu vaccine can protect you against COVID-19 too. However, that is not the case. Each year, the flu vaccine is modified to fight a different and specific strain of the influenza virus. Although scientists believe that certain antibodies could protect you from catching COVID-19 again, the study is still under review.

Many people think that it is unsafe to get a flu shot during COVID-19 as one has to visit the hospitals and medical clinics to get it. However, getting yourself vaccinated is of utmost importance. While you're worried of contracting the virus, doctors and medical professionals are also taking extra precautionary measures to keep their patients safe. That being said, wear your masks, make your appointments and follow all the guidelines to ensure a safe trip to the hospital.

The claim that a flu shot will make you test COVID positive is absolutely untrue and false. COVID-19 tests target a specific and distinct form of genetic material or proteins. Therefore, it is unlikely that other infections, diseases or vaccines will influence the coronavirus test in any way. Therefore, there is no reason to steer clear of getting yourself vaccinated for a flu.