COVID-19 or Flu? Symptoms Alone Can't Tell: Tammy Lundstrom, MD, JD

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COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 27 states as of September 16, 2026, according to estimates from the CDC.¹ As flu season begins, Tammy Lundstrom, MD, JD, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Trinity Health, said in an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care® that COVID-19 and flu symptoms overlap enough to make the 2 illnesses difficult to tell apart.

Fatigue, muscle aches, fever, sore throat, cough, and shortness of breath are all symptoms associated with both COVID-19 and the flu, Lundstrom said. Children in particular may also experience gastrointestinal upset, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, with COVID-19, she added.

"Really, it's hard to distinguish just by symptoms what you're dealing with. It really requires a visit," Lundstrom said.

To limit spread, she recommended staying home when sick, washing hands frequently, using antimicrobial hand gels, avoiding touching the nose, mouth, and eyes, and covering the mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.

Lundstrom also emphasized vaccination. She recommended the flu vaccine for anyone aged 6 months and older, with a high-dose or recombinant flu vaccine for adults older than 65 years. For COVID-19, she pointed to recommendations from the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

"Anybody over the age of 19 should get vaccinated. Those 6 months of age to 23 months should be vaccinated for COVID," she explained. "And then older children are really based on their risk profile. And definitely, supporting ACOG's [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists'] recommendation for vaccination of pregnant women to prevent more severe consequences from COVID."

For RSV, Lundstrom recommended vaccination for adults aged 75 years and older, adults aged 50 to 74 years at high risk, and pregnant women. For newborns whose mothers were not vaccinated, monoclonal antibodies can provide protection against RSV, she said.

Reference

1. Current Epidemic Trends (Based on Rt). CDC. September 18, 2026. Accessed September 23, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/cfa-modeling-and-forecasting/rt-estimates/index.html?tab=0