Influenza, or flu, is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs — similar to COVID-19. It's not the same as the stomach "flu" that causes diarrhea and vomiting.

Mayo Clinic and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend annual flu vaccination for everyone age 6 months or older. Now, more than ever, it’s important to put up your best defense by scheduling a flu vaccination appointment.

Because flu shares similar symptoms with COVID-19, if you have any of these shared symptoms, contact your team for guidance. You may need testing for both. Shared common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Tiredness
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Muscle aches
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Headache
• Chest pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

People at higher risk of developing flu complications include:

• Young children under 5, especially those under 2
• Adults older than 65
• Nursing home or long-term care facility residents
• Pregnant and up to two week postpartum women
• People with weakened immune systems
• People who have chronic illnesses, such as asthma, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease and diabetes
• People who are very obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher

If you have flu symptoms and are at risk of complications, share that information with your care team. Antiviral drugs may be prescribed depending on your health risk within the first 48 hours after you first notice symptoms and may reduce the length of your illness and help prevent more-serious problems. COVID-19 and influenza share several symptoms, but they are treated differently. Learn more on this COVID-19 webpage.

Watch this video as Adela Taylor, M.D., Allergy and Asthma, explains treatment options for colds, flu and other respiratory infections:

We care about helping you stay healthy. Patients must wear a mask in order to receive a flu vaccine.