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                CFSAN Constituent Updates

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          Getting a flu shot is more important this season than ever before!CFSAN Constituent Updates Getting a flu shot is more important this season than ever before!
  
  	
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en Español (Spanish)

Constituent Update

November 18, 2020

The FDA wants to remind the millions of men and women on the front lines of growing, processing, preparing, selling and delivering food for both people and animals, to get their seasonal flu shot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the healthcare community are preparing for flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 that will spread this fall and winter. Both are contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by **different viruses**. One of the **most important differences**is that there is a vaccine already available that can protect you against the flu. While getting a flu shot will not protect against COVID-19, a flu shot will protect you by reducing your risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and possibly death. Protecting yourself from the flu will also help save medical resources for the care of COVID-19 patients. 
People who have flu often feel some, or all, of these symptoms:

fever or feeling feverish/chills
	cough
	sore throat
	runny or stuffy nose
	muscle or body aches
	headaches
	fatigue (tiredness)
	some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.The best time to get a flu shot is **now**before the flu begins spreading in your community. It takes about two weeks after getting a vaccine for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection.

The same factors that contribute to workplace and community spread of COVID-19-- including prolonged close contact with coworkers, congregate housing, shared transportation, and frequent community contact among workers—likely contribute to the spread of the flu.

When an essential worker gets a flu shot, they protect themselves, their families,  co-workers, and their communities. Healthy workers help to ensure the availability of a safe and nutritious food supply.

To learn more about how and where to get a flu shot, contact your employer or visit: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/.

**Flyer for the Workplace** (PDF: 2.19MB)

Additional Resources

Seasonal Flu (Influenza) and the FDA
	It’s a Good Time to Get Your Flu Vaccine
	Tools for Essential Workers (CDC)
	Preventive Steps (CDC)
	Everyday Preventive Actions Can Help Fight Germs Like Flu (CDC)

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      11/18/2020
              
              
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