An even greater emphasis has been put on getting an annual flu shot during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The potential for second wave of COVID 19 has been identified in Canada, so experts are calling on everyone to get their flu shot.
Pharmacies are already preparing, according to Sebastian Di Pietro, who owns the Shoppers Drug Mart on Tecumseh Road East at Howard Avenue in Windsor.
Di Pietro tells AM800's The Afternoon News a flu shot is an easy and safe way to protect yourself and help others.
"We're going to add that trouble on to an already stressed hospital and healthcare system with COVID-19," he says. "The biggest deal would be to try to avoid what they're calling the 'twin-demic' of both COVID-19 and flu happening at the same time."
Di Pietro says you shouldn't skip the shot because you've been staying home more during the pandemic.
"As we have loosened up these restrictions, we have to remain vigilant to sort of keep them up if I'm being honest because we can't become complacent," he added.
Di Pietro getting vaccinated will make it easier to identify COVID-19 symptoms.
"Admittedly, it could be very difficult for anyone based on symptoms alone to tell the difference between COVID-19 and the flu," he says.
The flu is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in Canada, accounting for an estimated 3,500 deaths and 12,000 hospitalizations every year.
Di Pietro says flu shots will start becoming available to the public in the coming weeks.