CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The last thing hospitals need during a pandemic is a flood of people with flu, and that is why the medical community is pushing for you to get your flu shot this season.
The flu and COVID will likely collide this fall, and to prevent hospitals from becoming overburdened, the call is going out for people to get a flu shot.
The CDC recommends most people age 6 months and older get a flu shot every season.
"We have to do better than we have done in the past where less than 50 percent of adults have gotten vaccinated in the U.S.," said Dr. Sharon Welbel, director of hospital epidemiology and infection control at Cook County Health.
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The 2018-2019 flu season in the U.S. resulted in approximately half a million hospitalizations and more than 34,000 deaths.
"So this isn't something we take lightly. As it is, our ICUs get filled up with patients with influenza, and then of course this year with COVID, so this is also a resource issue," she said.
Dr. Welbel said when it comes to supplying the vaccine, "I believe that companies are on track. The CDC is disseminating more flu vaccines than ever. And I think from what I understand that we will be okay with supplies of the flu vaccine."Chicago Department of Public Health Director Dr. Allison Arwady is also encouraging a flu shot, saying now is the time to reach out to your doctor to get caught up on preventative health care.
Dr. Welbel said testing is needed to determine which virus you may have contracted.