(EAST HARTFORD) It's that time of year, according to Connecticut Public Health Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani:
"Flu and COVID shots for everybody six months and older!"
She suggests getting the vaccinations during the same visit as a matter of pragmatic convenience, protecting yourself and those around you.
"So, I would just encourage everybody to think about if you're going to get that flu shot, also get that COVID shot," said Juthani, at an appearance with Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and East Hartford Mayor-elect Connor Martin at the East Hartford Public Safety Complex. "You can get them at the same time, there's no problem with that at all."
The reminder comes as the Department of Public Health reports the first flu death of the season-- a person in their eighties from Middlesex County-- along with two RSV deaths, also involving two older residents. Officials say 67 Connecticut residents died of COVID in October, similar to last year's number for the same month.
The reminder also comes with the holidays approaching, and as more activities move indoors due to cold weather. Respiratory viruses spread more easily indoors, doctors say.
"We're starting to get into that time of year where our transmission for both those viruses is going to increase," says Laurence Burnsed, Director of Health and Human Services for the town of East Hartford, "especially as we get into the holidays, when we're going to be around other groups of people that we normally aren't."