Each September people ask themselves one important question—Is it too early to start decorating for fall? Based on the amount of pumpkin-flavored everything and fall-themed items on sale everywhere, the answer is a resounding “No.”

Another question the Southern Nevada Health District recommends people ask themselves each fall is what can I do this flu season to protect myself and my family? This question is even more consequential as our community continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The good news is that many of the same measures you have been taking to keep you and those around you safer and healthier during the pandemic will also help to protect you from the flu.

Here are some tips and facts to help your get ready for the 2021-2022 Flu Season:

• The flu and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses that are caused by different viruses.
• There are vaccines available for both illnesses, and the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick is to get vaccinated.
• The flu vaccine is now available at Southern Nevada Health District Public Health Centers. Walk-in clients are accepted at the Immunization Clinic at the Health District’s main location at 280 S. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107, but appointments are required at other public health center locations. Call (702) 759-0850 to make an appointment or go to www.snhd.info/flu for more information and location details.
• COVID-19 vaccines are also available throughout Southern Nevada. Conveniently located pharmacies, malls, fire stations, college campuses, DMVs, high school campuses, Health District sites, pop-up clinics and more help ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are accessible to everyone that wants one. Go to the Health District’s website at www.snhd.info/covid-vaccine for an up-to-date list of clinics. More information about community vaccination site locations can also be found at NVCOVIDFighter.org. The site features live chat support to make scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine appointment and getting information about the vaccine more accessible.

Both the flu and COVID-19 cause respiratory symptoms. Common symptoms can include:

• Fever or feeling feverish/having chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle pain or body aches
• Headache
• Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults)
• Change in or loss of taste or smell, although this is more frequent with COVID-19.

People who have the viruses that cause flu and COVID-19 can also experience no symptoms (be asymptomatic), or mild to serve symptoms. COVID-19 is much more likely to cause severe illness than the flu; however, every year people are hospitalized and die from flu-related complications.

For both COVID-19 and flu, it is possible to spread the virus before experiencing symptoms if you are sick. People who have the flu are contagious for about one day before they start having symptoms. Most children and adults with flu appear to be contagious during the first 3-4 days of their illness. Some people may remain contagious for about seven days. Infants and people with compromised immune systems can be contagious for longer periods.

People with COVID-19 can spread the virus for about two days before they experience signs or symptoms (possibly earlier) and remain contagious for at least 10 days after signs and symptoms first appeared. If someone does not have symptoms or their symptoms go away, it is possible they may be contagious for at least 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19. People who have been severely ill and hospitalized and people who are immunocompromised can be contagious for 20 days or longer.

The 2020-2021 flu season was mild, likely due to the COVID-19 mitigation measures people were taking to slow the spread of the virus. Recommended prevention measures include:

• Getting vaccinated.
  • The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. It is especially important for those at higher risk of developing serious complications from the flu. Many of the people at higher risk of complications from the flu are also at higher risk of complications from COVID-19. This includes people 65 years of age and older, people with underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, compromised immune systems, and Blacks and Hispanics who are already disproportionately impacted by chronic diseases.
  • COVID-19 vaccines are currently available and recommended for everyone 12 years of age and older. They are safe, free, and highly effective and preventing severe illness, hospitalizations and death.
  • Flu vaccines can be administered at the same time as COVID-19 vaccines.
• Wearing a mask in public indoor places.
• Staying home when you are sick
• Keeping children home from school when they are sick.
• Frequent handwashing with soap and running water.
• Covering your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing.
• Getting tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms, if you have had contact with a confirmed case, or if you are unvaccinated and were in a crowded or large social gathering where it was difficult to practice social distancing.
• Get more prevention tips for flu and COVID-19 on the CDC’s website.