Influenza (Flu)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in preventing the flu.  If you have health insurance, flu shots are typically covered at no cost, schedule with your local pharmacy. There are many other ways to get your flu shot:

1. At a Pharmacy: Flu shots are available at most pharmacies. No Cost with Most Insurances. View the Vaccine Finder to find a pharmacy where you can get flu shots.

2. With Your Doctor: If you have health insurance, you can get your flu vaccination with your primary care provider. It is often free with health insurance. Check with your doctor's office.

3. At a Local Clinic: Orange County community sites will offer free flu vaccinations. 

4. At the Health Department: If you don't have health insurance, you can get a free flu shot at the Orange County Health Care Agency Flu Clinic at 1725 W. 17th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706.  An appointment is required. Flu shots subject to availability. To make an appointment, please call 1-800-914-4887.

Preventing the Flu

People who have the flu can spread the virus to others. When someone ill with the flu coughs, sneezes or talks, droplets are released. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of those nearby. People can also get the flu by touching a surface or object, such as doorknobs or tables, that has flu virus on it and then touching their mouth or nose afterwards.

In addition to getting the flu shot, there are also everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health and the health of others:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Try to avoid close contact with people who may be at risk of becoming severely ill, such as pregnant women, children, and those with chronic illness (i.e., asthma).

Please view how you can do your part to slow the spread of flu.

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How Do You Know if You Have the Flu

The flu can cause mild to severe illness. It can sometimes lead to death. People who get sick with the flu often feel it come on suddenly and feel some or all of these symptoms:

• fever* or feeling feverish/chills (*not everyone with flu will have a fever)
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• muscle or body aches
• headaches
• fatigue (tiredness)
• vomiting or diarrhea (this is more common in children than adults)

Flu is different from a cold. Flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but caused by different viruses. Both illnesses have similar symptoms but generally, flu symptoms are worse and more intense than the common cold. People sick with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Compared to the flu, colds do not lead to serious health problems like pneumonia, bacterial infections or hospitalizations.

Because these two illnesses have similar symptoms, it may sometimes be difficult to distinguish between them based on symptoms alone. In these cases, special tests can determine if a person is sick with flu. These tests usually must be done within the first few days of illness.

Learn more about Cold vs. Flu.

Flu and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses caused by different viruses. Flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses and COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Flu and COVID-19 share similar symptoms so it may be difficult to differentiate them based solely on symptoms. A diagnostic test can help determine if you are sick with the flu or COVID-19.

To learn more about key similarities and differences between COVID-19 and flu, please view the CDC table that compares COVID-19 and flu with the best available information to date. There is still much that is unknown about COVID-19.

Although uncommon, you can be sick with the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, which may cause more severe illness than people with only one virus. 

Stay Home & Test If You Are Sick

• Contact the Student Health Center at 714-714-7705 or your healthcare provider for a medical evaluation.
• Inform your instructors if you are absent from class.

Get Treatment

• Seek care promptly for testing or treatment if you are sick.
• Treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness but needs to be started within a few days of when your symptoms begin.

Cover Your Coughs & Sneezes

• Wash or Sanitize Your Hands Often
• Consider masking if there is an increase in respiratory illness in your community, or you or someone close to you have risk factors for severe illness.
• Clean & Disinfect Commonly Touched Surfaces

If you or someone you know is sick and shows any of the following symptoms, seek Immediate Medical Care: 

• Difficulty breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath.
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen.
• Sudden dizziness, confusion.
• Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea.
• High fever that lasts more than 3 days.
• Symptoms that don’t get better after 7 days, or get worse after getting better.
• Severe headache.

Learn more about flu, visit Influenza (Flu).

Find out more about COVID-19, visit COVID-19.