NORFOLK, Va. – As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the country, Hampton Roads health experts are warning people to prepare for the fall flu season.
“It's never too early to get the flu shot,” said News 3 medical expert Dr. Ryan Light. “It takes at least two weeks for the flu shot to actually take full effect, so there's a two week lag between when you get the flu shot and when you have protection.”
Dr. Light said getting the flu shot does not make you more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 or having severe reactions to the virus if you do contract it.
“There was no link between taking a flu shot and getting the COVID virus,” he explained. “It's not going to weaken your immune system. It's actually going to strengthen your immune system.”
“What we know at this point is that it is wise to get the flu shot,” he continued. “[The flu] still kills 35,000 people a year, so if we don't get those flu shots, that number will go up.”
