Should you get a COVID-19 booster or a flu shot?
4 Minutes
Team Curative
Aug 9, 2024
It’s that time again: flu season. Staying healthy with the holidays coming up means practicing preventive care, which includes getting a COVID-19 booster and your annual flu shot. To keep your immunity and spirits high, here’s what you need to know about Fall 2024’s recommended vaccinations:
COVID-19 boosters
COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus with respiratory symptoms including fever and chills, cough, shortness of breath, congestion, nausea, and diarrhea. As COVID-19 continues to evolve, we must continue to reinforce our immunity to it. While vaccination has proven to be a powerful tool in controlling the spread of the virus, immunity may wane over time. That’s where COVID-19 boosters come into play. Boosters are additional vaccine doses administered to individuals already vaccinated to enhance and prolong their immunity. As the holiday season typically involves gatherings with family and friends, getting a COVID-19 booster is a responsible step in keeping your loved ones healthy.
Flu shots
In addition to COVID-19 boosters, flu shots are another essential component of preventive care during the fall season. The flu is a respiratory virus that can have symptoms similar to COVID-19, a fact that has caused confusion and concern since the pandemic began. The flu can cause mild to severe symptoms, and severe cases can even lead to death. Getting a flu shot reduces the likelihood of getting sick with the flu, helps prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, and relieves the burden on our healthcare system. Because the flu evolves each year, similar to COVID-19, getting a flu shot each year will protect you from the latest variant.
Where to get a COVID-19 booster and flu shot
Health insurance companies, like Curative, often cover COVID-19 boosters and flu shots. For Curative members, you can get $0 flu and COVID shots at any pharmacy. Simply schedule a flu shot and COVID-19 booster at a location most convenient to you, or if your nearest pharmacy allows walk-ins, just bring your ID and insurance card! For ultimate convenience, you can get both your COVID-19 booster and your flu shot at the same time with no ill effects.1
Curative also covers COVID-19 tests with valid prescriptions. If you’re displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who tested positive, please see your primary care physician for a COVID-19 test prescription that you can obtain at the closest in-network pharmacy.
It’s important to practice preventive care
Preventive care is the cornerstone of good health, and initial vaccines and booster shots are a big part of staying healthy. It's a proactive approach that aims to identify and address potential health issues before they become serious concerns.
In the pursuit of a healthy holiday season protecting yourself and your family with updated vaccines is the greatest gift you can give. By taking advantage of opportunities to protect yourself with the latest COVID-19 booster or flu shot, you can protect yourself for another season. By taking these preventative measures, members can enhance their personal immunity, contribute to public health, and better prepare themselves for potential health threats, ultimately supporting a safer and healthier community.
To learn more about Curative’s health plan, visit us here.
1NOT MEDICAL ADVICE: The information provided on the blog is not a substitute for the advice of a personal physician or other qualified health care professional and does not constitute a diagnosis or professional treatment recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding medical symptoms or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Site. Curative hereby disclaims any and all liability to any party for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental, or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the content, which is provided as is, and without warranties
To see all disclaimers, please view here.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Weekly US Map: Influenza Summary Update”
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Getting a Flu Vaccine and a COVID-19 Vaccine at the Same Time”
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/coadministration.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know”
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “COVID-19 Vaccines”
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Seasonal Flu Vaccines”
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/flushot.htm
Wellsteps: Effective Employee Wellness Solutions, “Healthy Employees: An Important Factor For Workplace Productivity”
