Flu season is approaching quickly. This year, it is especially important to get the flu vaccine to help you stay healthy and reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms should you get sick. This season, it is essential to take extra steps to protect yourself and others by getting the flu shot and practicing good hygiene.

To help your loved ones stay safe in the upcoming months, follow these tips:

Monitor Your Health Daily

Both the flu and COVID-19 are contagious respiratory diseases that share similar symptoms. Pay close attention to your health and see a medical professional if you experience any of the following:

• fever;
• difficulty breathing;
• headache;
• extreme tiredness;
• dry cough or sneeze;
• sore throat;
• stuffy or runny nose;
• muscle aches or chills;
• stomach symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea.

Apart from these symptoms, people with COVID-19 can also develop a loss of taste and smell.

Remember To Follow Health Guidelines and Practice Social Distancing

The CDC recommends the following measures for protecting ourselves and others.

• Stay home if you feel sick.
• Wear a mask when in public settings, especially in spaces where it is challenging to practice social distancing.
• Practice social distancing by staying six feet away from others.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available.

Protect Yourself and Others by Getting the Flu Vaccine

The flu is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus, causing mild to severe respiratory symptoms. Getting the flu shot protects you and those around you who may be at a higher risk of flu complications. People at higher risk include, but are not limited to:

• older adults;
• children younger than two years old;
• those who suffer from chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.

According to the CDC, the flu shot can help reduce the risk of flu-related hospitalizations and deaths. After getting the vaccine, it takes two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu. You may experience mild symptoms, such as soreness where the shot was given, but serious complications are rare. The vaccine’s symptoms are usually mild compared to how sick you would feel if you developed the flu.

There are many no and low-cost options for the flu vaccine. This year, Montefiore has, once again, teamed up with Walgreens to offer flu-shots at no or low-cost on these dates:

• September 18th between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Montefiore Community Center, 3450 DeKalb Avenue
• September 19th between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Tilden Towers, 801 Tilden Street
• September 28th between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Breaking Ground, 1191 Boston Road
• September 30th between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Parkside Community Center, 2972 Bronx Park East
• October 4th between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. at St. Simon Stock Church, 2191 Valentine Avenue
• October 11th between 9:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 627 East 187th Street
• October 18th between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 1253 Shakespeare Avenue

Bring a photo ID and your health insurance card if you have one, when you visit.

Don’t Put Your Healthcare On Hold

Montefiore and other providers are taking steps to keep you safe and healthy, including extra cleaning measures, regular temperature and symptom checks, and having masks and hand sanitizer available for patients and staff. Montefiore also provides virtual doctor visits through the Montefiore FIRST app and remote access to providers and health information through Montefiore MyChart. For more information on how to sign up for Montefiore FIRST or Montefiore MyChart, visit https://covidsafecare.montefiore.org/covid-safe.

Carlos Tejeda is Community Health Specialist for Community and Population Health at Montefiore Health System.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.