Influenza vaccines are becoming available in Dakar. Speak with your primary care doctor about getting the flu vaccine for yourself and your family this year, and contact your local pharmacy to see if they have the vaccine in stock. If you are planning to travel this winter, you can see if you can get the flu vaccine while you are there. Remember, the flu vaccine protects you from the flu, and that prevents you from spreading the flu to others too!
While it’s not possible to say with certainty what will happen this fall and winter, it’s likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both be spreading. In this context, getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever.
The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that all people 6 months and older get a yearly flu vaccine.
For the upcoming flu season, flu vaccination will be very important to reduce flu as it can help reduce the overall impact of respiratory illnesses on the population.
Ensuring that people continue or start getting routine vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential for protecting people and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks, including flu. Routine vaccination prevents illnesses that lead to unnecessary medical visits and hospitalizations, which further strain our healthcare systems.
A flu vaccine can also provide several individual health benefits, including keeping you from getting sick with flu, reducing the severity of your illness if you do get the flu, and reducing your risk of flu-associated hospitalization.
Cheers to your health,
Nurse Jen