Coronavirus virus Houston: Doctors say it’s time to get ready for flu shot

Houston, Texas (KTRK) – With COVID-19 still a threat, doctors are giving people an early push to get their flu shots.The CEO and President of Memorial Hermann Health System, Drs. David Calender said, “We want to make sure that we don’t have competition with COVID-19 patients.” “It puts pressure on all of us if we can stop flu cases or reduce the intensity of people by getting them flu vaccinated.”

On Monday, Mayor Sylvester Turner also joined the push.During an afternoon news conference, the mayor said, “I also intend to test COVID-19 and take my flu shot.”

Texas Medical Center saw COVID-19 peak hospitalization during the month of July. Doctors said they wanted to stop another surge.

“It is time to get ready to vaccinate our population,” Professor of Molecular Virology and Microbiology at the Baylor College of Medicine. Pedro Pidra said.

Piedra also warned against trying to self-diagnose.

“What I would suggest you not to try to differentiate between influenza and [COVID.] There are many respiratory viruses that will give you similar symptoms and it is fever and malaise and not feeling well and suffers from throat pain, cough, cough, all those types of symptoms, ”he said.

When exposed to COVID-19, Piedra suggests that it be tested so that a patient is diagnosed and treated properly.

READ MORE: How Coronovirus Compares to Flu

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