CHRISTOPHER (WSIL)---If you've ever had the flu, you probably had a fever, cough, fatigue, and headaches.
The problem is, those are almost identical symptoms to COVID-19.
While most people are familiar with the flu, influenza can be deadly to the immunocompromised, elderly, or very young children.
This year, healthcare workers don't expect the flu to transmit as much if people continue to wear their masks, but in order to keep people safe from both the flu and COVID, getting tested when you have symptoms for either is important.
"Based on your symptoms, there's really no way to know for sure a diagnosis without a test. At Rea Clinic, we do a test that can check you for the flu and COVID at the same time. Takes about 15 to 20 minutes," said Heather Ward, a family Nurse Practitioner at Rea Clinic.
War also suggests staying home whenever you have symptoms, regardless of whether you think it's the flu or COVID, to minimize the spread of both.
According to the CDC, if you haven't gotten your COVID vaccine yet, you can get both that vaccine and the flu vaccine at the same time.
If you've already gotten your COVID vaccine, you should also get your flu vaccine.
