COVID-19 cases continue to reach record levels across the United States—and now, it’s flu season. Check out #FlattenTheFlu, an international campaign to promote flu vaccination.
Led by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) and International Federation of Ageing (IFA),#FlattenTheFlu is an international campaign to promote flu vaccination, which is more important than ever as the pandemic rages on.
The flu vaccine can “take a substantial strain off the health care system, which will already be coping—in overdrive—with COVID,” said Vanderbilt’s Dr. William Schaffner on a recent episode of the I AM BIO Podcast.
It can help build herd immunity to protect certain at-risk populations, including health care workers, adults over the age of 65, and patients living with chronic medical conditions, who face greater risk of flu-related complications, hospitalization, and death.
And it can reduce your individual risk, by preventing infections or making them less severe, and reducing risk of coinfection with influenza/coronavirus.
What can you do to flatten the flu?
- If you haven’t already, get your flu vaccine. To find out where you can get a vaccine near you, visit www.vaccinefinder.org.
- Continue social distancing—and wear a mask when you cannot, which protects yourself and those around you.
- Join the conversation and share resources with #FlattenTheFlu.
More Health Care News:
AP: BioNTech scientist: Vaccine could halve virus transmission
“One of the scientists behind the experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer said Sunday that he was confident that it could halve the transmission of the virus, resulting in a ‘dramatic’ curb of the virus’ spread.”
NPR: Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine shines in clinical trial
“The biotech company Moderna, Inc., said Monday that its experimental vaccine was 94.5% effective in preventing disease, according to an analysis of its clinical trial.” [Moderna Statement]
The Wall Street Journal: Trump administration’s rule ending drug rebates in Medicare nears final approval
“The revised rule takes into account President Trump’s executive order requiring it doesn’t raise premiums or increase federal spending.”