COVID-19 and the Flu

What You Need to Know

We’re all ready to be done with the COVID-19 pandemic but it’s not yet done with us. As we head into the fall and winter months with the highly contagious delta variant circulating throughout the country, doctors are warning: Don’t forget about the flu. If you get sick in the coming months, how will you know if it's the flu, COVID-19 or a less serious virus like a cold? It’s crucial to get both your annual flu vaccine and a COVID-19 vaccine.

While we're still learning about COVID-19, we do know it’s extremely contagious. Additionally, different forms of the COVID-19 virus (called "variants") may increase your risk of becoming infected or transmitting the virus to others. Some infections are mild, but the virus can cause major health problems, leading to hospitalization and death.

Is It the Delta Variant, the Flu or a Cold?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the alpha variant of the virus that caused the first COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is no longer being detected here. The delta variant is now the dominant strain, and other variants are emerging as the virus mutates.

Signs of infection with the delta variant are slightly different from the original COVID-19 symptoms. Last year, COVID-19 looked a lot like the flu. Now the milder COVID-19 cases can look similar to a common cold or seasonal allergies.

“Delta is a little different in terms of symptoms,” says Jeffrey Silvers, M.D., medical director of infection control at Sutter Health. “Although loss of taste and/or smell without nasal congestion still strongly suggests COVID, it’s less common with the delta variant. A runny nose is more common with delta – add a sore throat and it can more easily be confused with allergies or a common cold.”

The delta variant also has a shorter incubation period of about four days (compared to 5.6 days for the original SARS-CoV-2 virus). That means people may become symptomatic faster and shed the virus earlier.

It’s important to remember that with every illness not everyone gets all the symptoms. Review our chart detailing the symptoms of these respiratory illnesses. You can also check the CDC website for a complete list of COVID-19 and flu symptoms.

If you haven’t yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, it’s not too late. The vaccines work. According to CDC data, more than 99.99% of fully vaccinated people have not had a breakthrough case of COVID-19 that resulted in hospitalization or death.

Getting Your Flu Shot: When and How

With COVID-19 still circulating, it’s vitally important to get your flu vaccine. It can offer protection against this year’s flu strains and help keep you out of the hospital. The CDC recommends everyone age 6 months and older be vaccinated against the flu every year, with few exceptions.

The typical flu season starts in fall and lasts until March or April. It can take about two weeks after vaccination to be fully protected. To ensure protection lasts the full season, you should plan to get your flu vaccine in September or October. You can still get vaccinated later, even into winter. And there’s no harm in getting the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot at the same time.

You can get a flu shot at a Sutter Walk-In Care, a routine doctor visit, a local pharmacy or at a flu shot clinic in your area. Schedule your flu shot at Sutter.

To learn more about flu and getting your flu shot, view our Flu Resources and watch this Flu Vaccine video, featuring Dr. Silvers.