KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — This is the time of year to get the seasonal influenza vaccine, but many are concerned it will interfere with the body's ability to fight off COVID-19.
The plain fact is that it will not interfere in any way, and that is good, because both COVID-19 and influenza viruses will be circulating in our communities this fall and winter.
It's strongly recommended people receive the influenza vaccine this fall to prevent either acquiring the influenza virus or developing severe influenza, which may lead to hospitalizations, ICU admissions, or death.
It's important to get one every year, but perhaps it's even more important this year because we're probably going to have a convergence of both the flu and coronavirus this fall.
So, anything we can do to reduce the flu is going to be really important.
