As the influenza season starts up, health officials urge everyone to get a flu vaccine sooner rather than later.

Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf says since influenza and COVID-19 have similar symptoms, the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have started a campaign to get people to get their flu vaccine in early fall. 

“So we’re just trying to get as many people vaccinated with the flu virus vaccine so that we can develop some community immunity against the influenza virus, and we’ll be more prepared for the coronavirus going into the winter months.”

Wolf points out by getting a flu shot now, it will hopefully prevent overwhelming healthcare professionals later this year.

“Our local medical providers, they are extremely busy now. That is a strain on them if we start having more and more people that are coming in with a vaccine preventable illness like influenza.”

Wolf reminds the public that it takes two weeks for the flu vaccine to take full effect and build up your body’s antibodies against influenza. Flu shots are available at any pharmacy, Greene County Public Health or your medical provider.