How we’ll make it through flu season and COVID-19 at the same time

Flu season is right around the corner, and many are wondering how severe this year’s bug will be — and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has only added to the concern.

Since the coronavirus and seasonal influenza share so many symptoms, health experts say it’s especially important to get a flu shot this year.

California State University campuses are making flu shots mandatory for all students coming to campus. In an August email, Cal State Northridge President Dianne Harrison said that all on-campus students will be required to have a flu shot by November 1. This move is part of the university’s new safety plan.

According to the CDC’s website when other viruses besides the flu are going around — the flu vaccine has reduced the risk of people going to the doctor by 40-60%.

“We encourage everybody to get the flu shot because it either prevents the flu or keeps you from getting as serious a case of flu,” says Dr. Linda Reid-Chassiakos, director of the Klotz Student Health Center at CSUN.

Reid-Chassiakos explained the flu vaccine available for college-aged groups and older is a “killed vaccine,” meaning no live influenza virus is inside the shot. The new vaccine out right now protects against four strains of flu.

“We’re highly recommending [getting a flu shot] because of COVID-19 situation that we are in — although they are two different viruses,” said Marisol Garcia, lead RN at CSUN’s Klotz Student Health Center. “It will hopefully reduce the amount of people who need to get hospitalized.”

While there’s no data on how severe this year’s flu season will be, there are precautions everyone can take to help prevent influenza.

“A lot of the public health prevention measures that we’re recommending for COVID actually will help prevent against influenza,” said Kaitlin Bahr an associate professor of health sciences at CSUN. She listed measures like “wearing masks, washing your hands… and then add to that the flu vaccine.”

CSUN has put in place safety protocols all over campus by taking into account the recommendations from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the CDC and the American College Health Association. The university launched the “CSUN as One” website that contains all health and safety protocols that students can expect.

It is not only CSUN taking precautions. Other Cal State University campuses are also doing their part in protecting their students.

“They just announced that our health center is now doing flu shots by appointment,” said Brianna Marroquin, a student at Cal State Channel Islands. “Once again they’re keeping that distance of six feet apart.”

CSUN’s health center is also offering the flu shot at a cost of $15 dollars for students who have insurance. Uninsured students can get the shot for free.

Marroquin says that most of the people she knows have either received their flu shot already or have an appointment for one. “It’s important for all of us to make sure we stay safe,” says Marroquin.

Reid-Chassiakos said the university has limited means of enforcing the mandate for all on-campus students to receive a flu shot.

She said CSUN is counting on community enthusiasm and cooperation to help ensure everyone stays as healthy as possible.