For Immediate Release
10/07/2021
COVID-19 Information
Phone: 980-432-1800
Website: www.rowancountync.gov/COVID-19
Email: covid-19@rowancountync.gov
Vaccine Information
Website: www.rowancountync.gov/COVIDvaccine
Follow Us: www.facebook.com/rowancountyhealth
Rowan County COVID-19 Case Information: https://bit.ly/rowan-covid19-hub
Experts are Predicting a Brutal Flu Season
This year’s flu season will be particularly brutal, experts say. Usually, flu seasons are easier to handle when some portion of the population has a natural immunity; however, since many Americans spent last fall and winter relentlessly washing hands and socially distancing, fewer people than normal got the flu. That means this year that an above-average number of people will now be at a higher risk.
Scientists usually develop the annual influenza vaccines based on the composition of the flu strains that circulated the year before. However, due to last year’s flu cases being so abnormally low, it means that it will trickier to make this year’s vaccine. When vaccines are “well-matched” to the circulating flu virus, they can reduce the risk of illness by between 40% and 60%, according to the CDC.
Another challenge for this year is the potential of the flu and COVID-19 circulating at the same time. Recently, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh used a mathematical model to determine what a worst-case scenario could look like for this flu season based on our country’s current environment. With this model, the researchers determined that this flu season could result in as many as 600,000 hospitalizations nationwide, especially if people do not get vaccinated against the flu and this year’s strain is especially contagious. To put this into perspective, that’s about three times as many flu-related hospitalizations as the U.S. typically sees in a year.
The CDC recommends getting your flu shot in early fall, between now and the end of October. By getting your flu shot by the end of this month, it gives your immune system enough time to prepare itself before flu activity peaks, which is usually between December and February.
Similar to the COVID-19 vaccine, it takes about two weeks after you’ve had your flu vaccine for your immune system to respond. By getting your flu shot now, you are giving your body adequate time to build immunity before we begin seeing our cases take off.
In addition to getting your flu shot, you should continue to wear a mask in public places and maintain good hand hygiene, especially after coughing and sneezing. If you’re sick, please stay home and avoid close contact with other people to prevent spreading the flu.
Like COVID-19, the flu spreads primarily through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. In rare cases, the flu virus can also spread on surfaces. Many people are more lax now about wearing masks and social distancing compared to last year; and because of this, the CDC is also warning that it’s possible to get infected with both the flu and COVID-19 simultaneously. They have similar symptoms — such as fever, chills or cough — so getting tested if and when you start feeling bad is of the utmost importance. If it is the flu, you can at least get an antiviral drug, such as Tamiflu, that will help subside your symptoms and reduce the number days that you could be sick.
We know that the constant vigilance of practicing the 3Ws is growing old for everyone, but these three simple steps are why so many people avoided getting sick last year and could help you avoid both COVID-19 and the flu this year.
If you still need to get a flu shot, please contact one of the following local agencies or businesses to find out more about their service:
Cannon Pharmacy
1401 Jake Alexander Blvd., S., Salisbury
980-892-0700/*Call for an appointment
CVS
1702 E. Innes St., Salisbury
704-633-7135/*Walk-ins are welcome
CVS
1924 Statesville Blvd., Salisbury
704-636-1616/*Walk-ins are welcome
CVS
8765 US 52, Rockwell
704-279-2581/*Walk-ins are welcome
Food Lion Pharmacy
525 Jake Alexander Blvd., W., Salisbury
704-636-7615/*Please call to schedule an appointment
Food Lion Pharmacy
1460 S. Main St., China Grove
704-855-1316/*Walk-ins are welcome
The Medicine Shoppe
1357 W. Innes St., Salisbury
704-637-6120/ Masks are preferred/*Walk-ins are welcome; M-F 10 am – 5pm;
Moose Pharmacy
1408 West Innes Street, Salisbury
704-636-6340/*Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred
(www. moosepharmacy.com)/Masks are required
Walgreens
1505 E. Innes St., Salisbury
704-637-6864/*Walk-ins are welcome
Walgreens
1906 W. Innes St., Salisbury
704-636-7479
*Walk-ins are welcome
Walgreens
705 Jake Alexander Blvd., Salisbury
704-630-0738/*Walk-ins are welcome
Walgreens
508 N. US 29 Hwy., China Grove
704-857-0116/*Walk-ins are welcome
Walmart Pharmacy
323 South Arlington St., Salisbury
704-639-9804
NOVANT HEALTH, ROWAN MEDICAL CLINICS:
*All Novant clinics should have flu vaccines by October 1st and will be offering them by appointment only. Please call your primary physician to schedule an appointment.
**Novant clinics are also accepting new patients at this time, if anyone needs a doctor and/or needs to get their flu vaccine.
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PIO Contact:
Amy Smith
704-216-8859
amy.smith@rowancountync.gov
Download Media Release COVID-19 - October 7, 2021 (PDF)