A Boone man says both he and a doctor were shocked when both his flu and COVID-19 tests came back positive. Ryan Hart is a kindergarten teacher. He says he woke up earlier in the week for a faculty meeting and noticed he wasn’t feeling well. “The doctor was shocked,” Hart said. “He’s like, ‘Well, I got some news for you. You have all three: the flu — A and B — and COVID.'”Hart’s been home with family all week, who are also vaccinated. He says he doesn’t even want to think about what this week could have been like if weren’t vaccinated for both the flu and coronavirus. Hart’s been home with his family all week.“I am immunocompromised,” Hart said. “I have rheumatoid arthritis.” Hart says he has shown symptoms, but they’re not too bad at all. He’s dealt with a fever, headache, and other typical flu symptoms. MercyOne’s Dr. Jeff Brock, an infectious diseases pharmacy specialist, says he hasn’t seen a lot of patients in the hospital with both. He is concerned, however, because of the low flu vaccination rate. The Iowa Department of Public Health shows 31% of Iowans have received the flu shot so far this season. “We don’t have a lot of people who have gotten that flu shot to protect themselves and we could see more flu cases come up in the future,” Brock said.Brock says the best thing people can do is get vaccinated. “Even though people will get infected with these viruses, it’s going to reduce how bad you feel over time,” Brock said.Hart agrees. He says one of the main reasons he got vaccinated is so the people closest to him stay safe. “I care for my kindergarten kids,” Hart said. “By being boostered and wearing a mask and doing things like that, it just keeps them safe and I can’t wait to see them on Monday hopefully.”
A Boone man says both he and a doctor were shocked when both his flu and COVID-19 tests came back positive.
Ryan Hart is a kindergarten teacher. He says he woke up earlier in the week for a faculty meeting and noticed he wasn’t feeling well.
“The doctor was shocked,” Hart said. “He’s like, ‘Well, I got some news for you. You have all three: the flu — A and B — and COVID.'”
Hart’s been home with family all week, who are also vaccinated. He says he doesn’t even want to think about what this week could have been like if weren’t vaccinated for both the flu and coronavirus. Hart’s been home with his family all week.
“I am immunocompromised,” Hart said. “I have rheumatoid arthritis.”
Hart says he has shown symptoms, but they’re not too bad at all. He’s dealt with a fever, headache, and other typical flu symptoms.
MercyOne’s Dr. Jeff Brock, an infectious diseases pharmacy specialist, says he hasn’t seen a lot of patients in the hospital with both. He is concerned, however, because of the low flu vaccination rate.
The Iowa Department of Public Health shows 31% of Iowans have received the flu shot so far this season.
“We don’t have a lot of people who have gotten that flu shot to protect themselves and we could see more flu cases come up in the future,” Brock said.
Brock says the best thing people can do is get vaccinated.
“Even though people will get infected with these viruses, it’s going to reduce how bad you feel over time,” Brock said.
Hart agrees. He says one of the main reasons he got vaccinated is so the people closest to him stay safe.
“I care for my kindergarten kids,” Hart said. “By being boostered and wearing a mask and doing things like that, it just keeps them safe and I can’t wait to see them on Monday hopefully.”
