Public Health Sudbury and Districts is urging everyone to help avoid a "twindemic".
Warning the annual influenza epidemic's on "a collision course" with the COVID-19 pandemic, the health unit is encouraging everyone at least six months of age to get their flu shot, to stay healthy and avoid overwhelming the health care system.
While the shot doesn't protect against COVID-19, the health unit emphasizes having COVID-19 and the flu close together - or at the same time - could put you at higher risk for severe illness, and encourages everyone to get the flu shot as soon as possible, noting it can take up to two weeks for your body to build immunity to the flu viruses included in the vaccine.