UCI Health experts recommend getting vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19 in October for the best protection through fall and winter.
It’s that time of year again: the start of flu season with an expected winter surge of COVID-19.
UCI Health primary care and infectious disease experts are urging everyone to get the vaccines to receive their full protective benefits.
Dr. Susan Huang, the medical director of Epidemiology and Infection Prevention at UCI Health, is particularly concerned about the declining rate of vaccination against COVID-19.
“Only a minority of the U.S. population received the updated omicron vaccine last year,” she notes.
Flu takes between 35,000 to 40,000 lives each winter. COVID-19 killed 76,000 people last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“If we don’t encourage more people to receive the vaccine this year, any severe wave of infections will result in substantial hospitalizations and deaths.”
Huang says protecting oneself with vaccines ultimately protects others, too.
COVID-19 on the rise
The current strain of COVID-19 can be fast-spreading.
“People are starting to get sick fairly quickly,” says UCI Health family medicine physician Dr. Jose Mayorga. executive director and chief medical officer for UCI Health family health centers. "It's pretty contagious."
Mayorga also urges those who suspect they might have COVID-19 to test themselves as soon as possible so they can take steps to prevent the spread of illness. He notes that the federal government recently released four free at-home COVID tests, which can be ordered online. People who become ill should also take care to isolate themselves.
“If you feel sick, you should stay home,” Mayorga says. Even though we have become accustomed to working while ill, he says doing so puts a strain on the immune system and may delay healing.
When to vaccinate
For the best protection through the height of the fall and winter seasons, Mayorga suggests getting vaccines in October.
“That covers you during peak respiratory season, since it takes between two to four weeks for full protection.”
Huang says that anyone he has recently had COVID-19 should still become vaccinated.
“Infection doesn’t guarantee strong immunity to the virus,” she points out. “Usually, infection protects you for only three months. If you had COVID over the summer or even this fall, you will not stay protected during the whole winter season without the vaccine.”
Why get vaccinated?
The reasons to get vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 are numerous:
- The viruses change each year. New vaccines are released every year to target those changes and provide maximum protection.
- Vaccines keep you healthy and reduce the risk of spreading flu and COVID-19 to those at high risk of severe illness, including infants, pregnant women, older adults and immunocompromised individuals.
- Pregnant women who receive vaccines protect themselves and their babies for up to 6 months after birth. The mother’s protective antibodies transfer to the baby during pregnancy and protects the baby after birth. “This is important because pregnant women and infants are at higher risk for hospitalization and death due to flu and COVID-19,” Huang says.
- If you do become ill, being vaccinated makes your flu or COVID illness milder, shorter, and less contagious compared to not being vaccinated.
- Vaccines help reduce the risk of hospitalization and death from flu and COVID-19.
- Vaccines also lower your risk of developing long COVID by 55%
The bottom line is that vaccines offer far too numerous benefits to ignore, Huang points out.
“While vaccines are not perfect, they substantially reduce the chance of severe illness, hospitalization and death.”
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