If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that health is precious and the nation’s health care system can buckle under the strain of a pandemic. While COVID-19 proliferated throughout much of the world, the 2020 flu season was noticeably mild due to the implementation of mask wearing, social distancing, and extra hand sanitizing. This makes sense since the coronavirus and influenza are both spread by respiratory droplets. Both illnesses can go undetected until the actual symptoms set in, meaning that you can test positive for the flu, but you may not feel ill until two, three, or even four days later.

Everyone is vulnerable to the flu, and those with pre-existing health conditions and people over the age of 65 are especially susceptible. Experts say that the optimal time to get a flu shot is late October, though getting a vaccination later in the year is still beneficial. Like most vaccines, the flu shot takes two weeks to be effective. As demonstrated by the various COVID-19 vaccines, getting vaccinated not only protects yourself and your family, but also your coworkers, friends, and the general public.

Additionally, ensure that your surroundings are clean and hygienic to avoid getting in contact with the virus. This should be one of the priorities for companies that have opened after COVID-19 lockdowns and quarantines. Businesses could be more responsible and aware of the situation by ensuring that the workplace gets cleaned and sanitized regularly by a professional cleaning company Vienna (or elsewhere) so that you can keep your employees as well as their families safe. Moreover, as a company’s manager, CEO, or owner, you can consider setting up a vaccination camp in the office to ensure the health and well-being of your staff.

There are other sectors as well that have started operating after a few months of functioning online or complete shutdown, including retail, schools, colleges, tourism, etc. These sectors also need to be careful of rising cases of flu. For instance, with children being back in the classroom, it is imperative that the campus be disinfected by maintenance personnel or by professionals that provide sanitizing services. In addition, the flu vaccine is especially important since flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, will most likely keep a child from attending school and may require a COVID test and/or self-quarantining, depending on the school’s policies.

The CDC originally recommended spacing out the COVID-19 and flu vaccine by about two weeks to avoid any overlapping symptoms from developing. While people do not typically get sick from either vaccine, if you have any sort of food or egg allergy, you may elect to get either the COVID-19 vaccine or the flu vaccine in a doctor’s office.

For additional information on the 2021 flu season, visit https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/symptoms.htm.