It is true that as hard as a global pandemic is, it’s a lot easier to manage it in the sunshine and long evenings rather than the cold and wet nights that winter brings. Now, with flu season well and truly among us, it is more important than ever to be doing as much as we can to look after our health.
The challenge the flu brings is obvious – its symptoms are very similar to Coronavirus, meaning it will cause a lot more uncertainty, anxiousness, and fear for people who contract what is usually a common virus to get over.
“In Ireland, our flu season typically starts around the end of October and can last until the following April,” Mairead Twohig, Quality and Patient Safety Officer in the HSE told HerCampus, “ The biggest danger is that it can be hard to differentiate between the two [COVID-19 and the flu] this will increase testing and put pressure on our labs, but it’s important everyone does stay at home if they have any symptoms, and contact your GP”.
The main difference between the flu and COVID-19 is that you “usually do not have a shortness of breath when you have the flu,” according to HSE.ie. All other symptoms are strikingly similar such as high fever, muscle aches, a cough, and headaches. The lesser of the three threats, the common cold, also shares similar traits but those with a cold are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose and no other severe symptoms.
Fortunately, there is a vaccine available for the flu and this year the HSE is advising everyone to get it. The vaccine offers protection for those who get it and also for those around them as the vaccinated person cannot spread the flu. It usually takes the form of a single injection and there is also the option for under 12’s to get a nasal spray.
“It is beneficial to get the flu vaccine as we are in the middle of a pandemic. Therefore one could get both the flu and COVID at the same time. This increases morbidity and mortality rates and could mean that vulnerable people require hospitalisation,” Twohig said.
The vaccine is not recommended for those with a history of anaphylaxis, “patients on combination checkpoint inhibitors” or people with severe neutropenia ( abnormally low concentration of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell), according to the HSE.
Although colds can be treated at home and do not require a specific treatment it is important that you contact your GP with regards to getting tested if symptoms continue as “ it is very likely what seems a common cold might be COVID in these times,” according to Twohig.
The flu vaccine is available for DCU students at a cost of €20. It is available at the student health centres on our Glasnevin and St. Pat’s campuses. Due to COVID-19, all appointments must be pre-arranged by phone or email. The vaccine is also available in pharmacies nationwide. If you have any doubts about whether or not you should get the vaccine you should contact your GP.