When are cold and flu seasons? How to stay safe in Michigan

Chilly and flu seasons are again in Michigan, and specialists say now’s the time to guard your self with an annual flu shot.

Flu season starts in the fallusually in October, based on the Cleveland Clinic, and tends to peak within the winter months, between December and February, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention added.

In line with the Michigan Division of Well being and Human Providers, that is greater than 2.8 million Michigan residents flu vaccines through the 2024-2025 season (by means of June 2025) – the bottom whole in no less than seven years and effectively under the division’s objective of three.9 million vaccinations.

Thus far this season, about 1.2 million people have been vaccinated – solely 12% of the inhabitants. By comparability, about 440,000 individuals have gotten COVID-19 vaccines – about 4% of the inhabitants.

Along with your physician’s workplace or well being division, normally you can too get a flu shot at a neighborhood pharmacy.

Here is what it’s worthwhile to find out about how one can shield your well being this season.

The place are you able to get the flu shot?

Contact your native pharmacy, physician’s workplace or well being division to rearrange your flu shot. Many healthcare suppliers supply walk-in consultations or appointments.

When does the flu season begin?

The flu season starts in the falloften in October, based on the Cleveland Clinic. Flu season tends to peak within the winter months, between December and February, based on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

What causes the flu?

The flu is a respiratory sickness that you simply get from the influenza virus, based on the Cleveland Clinic.

How lengthy does the flu season final?

Flu season lasts into the spring and often tapers off in Could, based on the Cleveland Clinic. Influenza viruses can unfold all 12 months spherical. Completely different strains of the virus have gotten extra frequent annually, so an up to date vaccination will assist forestall the variant that’s commonest this 12 months.

When do you have to get the flu shot?

The earlier the higher for the flu shot, well being specialists advise. In line with the CDC, people ought to be vaccinated in opposition to influenza by the tip of October.

Who ought to get the flu shot?

The CDC recommends that everybody 6 months or older get vaccinated in opposition to the flu. These at increased danger for flu embody:

• Adults aged 65 and over
• Individuals with power well being issues
• Youngsters 5 years and underneath
• Pregnant ladies

How a lot does the flu shot price?

The flu shot might be free or low-cost with most insurance coverage choices.

When does the chilly season begin?

Chilly season starts in the falloften in late August or early September, based on Johns Hopkins Drugs.

What causes a chilly?

A chilly is attributable to one among a number of viruses that trigger irritation of the membranes lining the nostril and throat, Johns Hopkins stated, including that it could possibly end result from any of greater than 200 totally different viruses. Rhinoviruses trigger most colds.

How lengthy does the chilly season final?

The chilly season usually extends into spring and lasts till March or April, based on Johns Hopkins Drugs. There is no such thing as a vaccine to stop the frequent chilly.

What’s the distinction between a chilly and flu?

A chilly is an an infection of the nostril and throat. Signs embody runny nostril, coughing, sore throat, fatigue, watery eyes, headache and sneezing.

The flu, or flu, is a respiratory an infection attributable to one other virus. Signs embody fever, sore throat, runny nostril, fatigue, coughing and headache.

Though the signs of the ailments are related, they’re distinguished by vital variations. The 2 ailments develop at totally different charges, with the frequent chilly usually beginning slowly and the flu taking impact extra rapidly. The frequent chilly is often a light sickness, whereas the flu can change into critical and in some instances deadly.

What’s the distinction between COVID-19 and the flu?

The flu shares similarities with COVID-19, one other respiratory illness, however some signs set them aside.

In line with the CDC, the 2 ailments are each contagious and exhibit related signs. Nonetheless, the flu is attributable to the influenza virus, whereas COVID-19 is attributable to the coronavirus.

Flu signs can happen inside one to 4 days after an infection, whereas COVID-19 signs can happen as much as 14 days after an infection. COVID-19 might be contagious for longer than the flu and may trigger extra critical problems.

Ought to I get a COVID vaccine?

Most docs suggest vaccinations for his or her sufferers.

U.S. Secretary of Well being and Human Providers Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced in May that the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention would not suggest COVID-19 vaccines for wholesome youngsters or pregnant ladies. And in August, the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration modified the labels on the vaccines, saying they need to solely be given to individuals over age 65 and to youthful People with no less than one pre-existing well being situation that places them at excessive danger for extreme sickness from COVID-19.

Nonetheless, in September, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a directive directing the Michigan Division of Well being and Human Providers (MDHHS), the state Division of Insurance coverage and Monetary Providers (DIFS), and the Division of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to:

• Determine, assessment, and take away different boundaries to accessing COVID-19 vaccines.
• Make sure that medical health insurance plans underneath the regulatory authority of MDHHS and DIFS – together with Medicaid and well being plans within the particular person, small group, and enormous group markets – cowl COVID-19 vaccines.
• Present clear, accessible steerage to pharmacists, healthcare suppliers and the general public on the protection and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.
• Subject steerage instructing pharmacists and different healthcare suppliers to encourage, prescribe and administer COVID-19 vaccines.

The Detroit Free Press contributed to this story.

Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com