Merit Family,

Flu season is here, and with it many questions about the flu vaccine. Is it safe? Should you have a flu vaccine during the pandemic? Why have a flu vaccine at all? With help from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), I want to answer all of these questions and more in this newsletter. 

But before I do, let's take a moment to talk about the rise in COVID-19 cases seen in the US. Here's an interactive map that helps to show the number of COVID-19 cases by state and county. 

I understand we all are fatigued from the pandemic, but now is not the time to relax our measures. Appropriately wearing a mask—over the nose and mouth—at work and in public places is one of the most important things we can do to protect ourselves and others. Please also continue to avoid large gatherings, including funerals, parties, and family events. I personally have seen many COVID-19 positive cases result from such gatherings. 

FLU VACCINE & SAFETY

Is the flu vaccine safe?

Flu vaccines have a good safety record. Hundreds of millions of people have safely received flu vaccines over the past 50 years, and there has been extensive research supporting the safety of flu vaccines.

A flu vaccine is the first and best way to reduce your chances of getting the flu and spreading it to others. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older receive a flu vaccine every year.

Can I get the flu from a flu vaccine?

No, the flu vaccine cannot cause flu. The vaccines either contain inactivated virus, meaning the viruses are no longer infectious, or a particle designed to look like a flu virus to your immune system. While the nasal spray flu vaccine does contain a live virus, the viruses are changed so that they cannot give you the flu.

Do flu vaccines cause any side effects?

Like any medical product, vaccines can cause side effects. Side effects of the flu vaccine are generally mild and go away on their own within a few days.

Common side effects from the flu shot include:

• Soreness, redness, and/or swelling from the shot
• Headache
• Fever
• Nausea
• Muscle aches

Should pregnant women receive a flu vaccine?

Yes, pregnant women should get a flu shot to protect themselves and their developing babies. To learn more about flu vaccine safety during pregnancy, visit Flu Vaccine Safety and Pregnancy.

Find more information on the safety of the flu vaccine here. 

FLU VACCINE GENERAL FAQS

What viruses will the 2020–2021 flu vaccine protect against?

There are many different flu viruses, and they are constantly changing. The composition of U.S. flu vaccines is reviewed annually and updated as needed to match circulating flu viruses. Flu vaccines protect against the three or four viruses (depending on the vaccine) that research suggests will be most common.

Find names of specific flu strands here.

What is the difference between flu and COVID-19?

Influenza (flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. Flu and COVID-19 share many characteristics, but there are some key differences between the two.

While more is learned every day, there is still a lot that is unknown about COVID-19 and the virus that causes it. This table compares COVID-19 and flu, given the best available information to date.

To learn more about COVID-19, visit the CDC's Coronavirus (COVID-19) page.

To learn more about flu, visit the CDC's Influenza (Flu) page.

Is COVID-19 more dangerous than flu?

Flu and COVID-19 can both result in serious illness, including illness resulting in hospitalization or death. While there is still much to learn about COVID-19, at this time, it does seem as if COVID-19 is more deadly than seasonal influenza; however, it is too early to draw any conclusions from the current data. This may change as we learn more about the number of people who are infected who have mild illnesses.

Will a flu vaccine protect me against COVID-19?

Getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19; however, flu vaccination has many other important benefits. Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death. Getting a flu vaccine this fall will be more important than ever, not only to reduce your risk from flu but also to help conserve potentially scarce health care resources.

Does a flu vaccine increase my risk of getting COVID-19?

There is no evidence that getting a flu vaccination increases your risk of getting sick from a coronavirus, like the one that causes COVID-19.

You may have heard about a study published in January 2020 that reported an association between flu vaccination and risk of four commonly circulating seasonal coronaviruses, but not the one that causes COVID-19. This report was later found to be incorrect.

Get more questions answered about flu and COVID-19 here. 

GETTING A FLU VACCINE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

If COVID-19 is spreading in my community, should I still go out to get a flu vaccine?

Yes. Getting a flu vaccine is an essential part of protecting your health and your family's health this season. To protect your health when getting a flu vaccine, follow CDC's recommendations for running essential errands and doctor visits. Continue to take everyday preventive actions.

If I am at a high risk for serious illness from COVID-19 or flu, where is the safest place for me to get a flu vaccine?

You can safely get a flu vaccine at multiple locations, including your doctor's office, health departments, and pharmacies. You can use VaccineFinder.org to find where flu vaccines are available near you. When going to get a flu vaccine, be sure to practice everyday preventive actions.

Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or health department if they're following CDC's vaccination pandemic guidance. Any vaccination location following CDC's guidance should be a safe place for you to get a flu vaccine.

Find more guidance about getting the flu vaccine during the pandemic here.

SELFIE TIME! #WEARYOURMASK

Help to encourage your fellow employees during the pandemic by taking a selfie of you wearing your mask. The Merit Brand Marketing team will post it over social media to show how our company is working together to slow the spread.

Submit selfies here.

HEALTHY RECIPE OF THE WEEK

To help you get through the season in a COVID-19-friendly way, in each newsletter I'll provide a new healthy recipe to try. This week?

Slow-Cooker Vegetable Stew

Slow-cookers, or crockpots, are the best inventions for busy households. Combine ingredients in the morning, and you'll have a nutritious meal waiting for you at the end of your workday. Who says eating healthy has to be difficult?

Find the full recipe here. 

SILVER LINING STORY

It seems like every day (COVID-19 or no) we're bombarded with frightening and worrisome news. But the truth of the matter is, good things are happening all around us—we just have to look.

This week's Silver Lining Story comes to us from California, where firefighters from Mexico have arrived to help battle the record-breaking wildfires ravaging the state. 

"Fires do not have borders, fires do not have different languages and cultures. In the end we all speak the same language when it comes to fighting fire," said Eduardo Cruz, the Mexican agency's national fire director.

Read the full story here. 

UPDATE ON COVID-19 AT MERIT

We've now identified 136 cases of COVID-19 among the Merit family of approximately 5,900 (108 in the United States, 16 in Mexico, four in Sales-EMEA, two in Ireland, two in Sales-LAM, one in The Netherlands, one is Sales-APAC, one in South Africa, and one in Brazil). Employees are recovering at home or at the hospital. Many employees who have recovered have returned to work

All facilities have implemented stringent COVID-19 protection measures to prevent any spread of the virus among Merit employees.

Please visit the Merit Metro (for employees who have Merit email addresses) or www.merit.com/covid-19-response-resource-page/ for the most updated information on Merit and COVID-19.

Please stay safe. Please stay positive (and keep smiling from 6 feet). I look forward to sharing more information with you soon.

Regards,

Dr. Nicole Priest, MD

Merit Medical Chief Wellness Officer

This communication is for internal distribution only. You may discuss appropriate content of the communication with individuals outside of Merit, but may not distribute the communication itself to individuals outside of Merit.