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COVID-19 cases increasing right when flu season is ramping up

ATLANTA, Ga. — COVID-19 cases are increasing right as flu season is ramping up.

The Center for Disease Control says it has manufactured more than 194 million doses of the flu vaccine.

Channel 2′s Carol Sbarge looked at how this is affecting Georgia residents.

According to the CDC, flu activity across the country is low. Doctors say the low flu rate could be a combination of people wearing masks along with more people getting a flu shot.

“I woke up sweating profusely and my whole body was just sore,” Fulton County resident Tiffany Pope said.

Pope got the flu back in January after skipping the flu shot last year.

This year, with the flu and coronavirus circulating, Pope took no chances and has already had the flu vaccine.

Dr. Barbara Joy Jones also noted an increase in her patients who are opting to get the flu shot.

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“If I were to say in numbers, last year maybe 60 to 70% of my patients wanted to get the flu vaccine,” Jones said.

This year, Jones notes that percentage has increased to about 90 to 95% of her patients.

The demand has been so high that they briefly ran out of the flu vaccine.

“We do have enough but we had to restock, which was neat,” Jones said. “I never had to do that in my six years of practicing.”

Right now, the CDC reports Iowa is the only state to show flu activity above the minimal level.

In addition to a doctor’s office, many pharmacies are also offering the flu shot.