Influenza Awareness: Spot the Difference, Stay Protected, and Get Vaccinated
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is making its presence felt again in our region. In Singapore, doctors have reported a clear surge in flu cases recently, with some clinics seeing up to a 40% increase in patients. Just across the border in Malaysia, an influenza outbreak infected around 6,000 students, even forcing a number of schools to temporarily close for safety. These developments are a timely reminder that influenza is not “just a cold,” and in a COVID-19 era, it’s easy to mistake one illness for another.
So how can we tell influenza apart from COVID-19 or a regular cold, and why does it matter? In this blog post, we’ll explain the differences in symptoms, discuss new dual test kits (available at Alami Clinic) that check for both flu and COVID-19, and outline how to protect yourself and your loved ones. We’ll also highlight why the flu can be serious for vulnerable family members, and the importance of prevention including vaccination, which is accessible and subsidised for high-risk groups in Singapore.
Flu, COVID-19 or Just a Cold? Understanding the Differences
At first glance, influenza, COVID-19 and the common cold can all look very similar. They are all contagious viral infections of the respiratory tract, and they share overlapping symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and fatigue. This can make it tricky to know which illness you have based on symptoms alone. However, these illnesses are caused by different viruses, and there are some differences in how they typically affect us:
Common Cold: Usually caused by mild viruses (often rhinoviruses), the common cold stays in the upper respiratory tract. Symptoms are generally milder—think runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, and maybe a mild cough. Fevers are uncommon or low-grade, and colds tend to come on gradually. Most people recover on their own in about a week.
Influenza (Flu): The flu is caused by influenza viruses (mainly types A and B in humans). Flu symptoms typically hit faster and harder than a cold. High fever, chills, body aches, headache, and a more severe cough are common. You might feel extremely fatigued or bedridden for several days. Importantly, flu can infect both the upper and lower respiratory tract, so it sometimes leads to pneumonia or bronchitis, especially in vulnerable people. Flu is generally more severe than a common cold, and it can result in complications requiring hospitalisation or even be life-threatening in high-risk groups.
COVID-19: COVID is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Like flu, it can cause high fever, cough, fatigue, and body aches. Some patients (especially with earlier variants) experienced loss of taste or smell, though this is less common now. COVID-19 can range from very mild (or even asymptomatic) to very severe. In vulnerable individuals, it has a higher likelihood of causing serious lung infection (pneumonia) and breathing difficulties. Both COVID-19 and flu are more serious illnesses than the common cold, so they shouldn’t be brushed off.
In summary, the flu and COVID-19 can make you much sicker than a typical cold. A cold might give you a runny nose for a few days, but influenza can knock you out with high fever and aches, and COVID-19 can do the same sometimes with added respiratory difficulty. Still, given the overlapping signs, you can’t be 100% sure based on symptoms alone. Our Pharmacist, Imran, reminds us: “Both influenza and COVID-19 are more serious than common colds, so knowing which virus they are infected with is useful for patients.”
This is where diagnostic testing comes in.
New Dual Test Kits: Telling Flu and COVID-19 Apart Quickly
During the pandemic, we all became familiar with ART kits (antigen rapid test kits) for COVID-19. Now, there are new combination ART kits that can detect influenza A, influenza B, and COVID-19 all in one swab. CNA Lifestyle recently highlighted these 3-in-1 self-test kits and why they’re useful (tag CNA article). At Alami Clinic, we’re happy to offer these dual virus test kits to our patients so if you wake up with the sniffles and a fever, you can quickly find out if it’s COVID-19 or the flu (or neither).
Why does it matter to know which bug you have? After all, if you’re sick, you’ll likely stay home and rest regardless. The reason is that knowing the cause can guide specific treatments and precautions. For example, if you test positive for influenza, your doctor can consider prescribing an antiviral medication like oseltamivir (Tamiflu), which works against flu (types A & B). If you test positive for COVID-19, a different antiviral such as nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) might be appropriate in certain cases.
Knowing whether it’s flu, COVID-19, or just a common cold is helpful for taking the right precautions and managing your recovery. Both influenza and COVID-19 are contagious and can cause complications in the very old and very young. If you know you have caught COVID-19 or influenza A or B, you should take contact precautions, wear a mask and avoid exposing others, especially vulnerable family members.
How do these combo test kits work? They function very much like a regular COVID ART kit. You use a nasal swab sample, and the test card will show separate lines indicating COVID-19, flu A, or flu B if positive. In 10–15 minutes, you’ll have a clearer answer. This convenient tool means you can make informed decisions quickly—for instance, whether to see a doctor for antivirals, or whether to isolate from grandparents. (Do note that if your symptoms are severe or you’re in a high-risk group, it’s always best to see a doctor, regardless of home test results.)
Caring for Yourself If You Have the Flu
Let’s say your suspicions were right - your ART kit shows you have influenza. How should you manage it? For most healthy adults, flu is managed with supportive care: rest at home, stay well hydrated, take fever reducers or pain relievers (like paracetamol/Panadol), and use cough or cold medicines to ease symptoms. The majority of people will recover with time and self-care.
However, in some cases a doctor may recommend antiviral medication for the flu. Antivirals are prescription medicines (such as oseltamivir) that can reduce the severity and duration of flu, especially if started within the first two days of illness onset.
Always seek medical attention if you experience warning signs such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent high fever beyond 3–4 days, confusion, or dehydration.
Why Flu Can Be Dangerous for Vulnerable Groups
We often hear people dismissing influenza as “just the flu,” but for certain groups of people, the flu can be much more dangerous than a simple cold.
Public health data show that very young children and older adults are at higher risk of severe flu complications, as well as people with underlying health issues. Specifically, those at higher risk include seniors aged 65 and above, young children, people with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, and residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities.
If you live with or care for someone in these categories, you need to take flu symptoms seriously.
Vaccination: Your Best Defense Against Flu
If there’s one key takeaway, it’s that influenza is largely preventable through vaccination. The flu vaccine significantly reduces your chance of catching the flu, and even if you do get sick, it tends to make the illness milder and shorter-lasting.
Who Should Get Vaccinated?
In Singapore, health authorities recommend that everyone aged 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccination, unless there are specific medical contraindications.
Seniors (65 years and above): Older adults are a top priority for flu vaccination, because of the high risk of severe illness.
Young children (6 months to 5 years): Little ones are especially vulnerable to flu complications. (Note: Babies under 6 months cannot receive the flu vaccine; instead, we protect them by vaccinating their mothers in pregnancy and ensuring family members are vaccinated.)
People with chronic health conditions: If you have asthma, diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, a weakened immune system, or other chronic illnesses, a flu shot is very important.
Pregnant women: The flu shot is safe in pregnancy and protects both the mother and baby.
Caregivers and household members of vulnerable people: Even if you’re healthy, if you live with someone who is elderly or has medical issues, you should get a flu jab to protect them.
Flu Vaccines at Alami Clinic – Accessible and Subsidised
An Alami Clinic patient receiving an influenza vaccine. Flu shots are a safe and effective way to protect seniors, young children, and other high-risk groups from the dangers of influenza. At Alami Clinic, we offer flu vaccinations for patients of all ages. You can get your shot in-clinic, and for those with mobility issues, we even provide home vaccination visits for added convenience.
We participate in the national immunisation programs, so eligible Singaporeans enjoy the same subsidies at our clinic as at polyclinics for recommended vaccines.
To break down the subsidies and free vaccination schemes:
Children (6 months to 59 months): Under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule, flu vaccination for children under 5 is fully subsidised at CHAS GP clinics and polyclinics. This means Singaporean children from 6 months up to their 5th birthday can get their yearly flu shots at no cost (free). Children of any age with certain medical conditions (the high-risk group) are also covered under this scheme. Essentially, if your little one is under 5 or has a chronic condition, there’s no reason to skip the flu jab - it’s free, and it could save them from serious illness.
Seniors (65 years and above): Flu vaccination is highly subsidised for older adults under the National Adult Immunisation Schedule. At CHAS GP clinics and polyclinics, senior citizens pay much lower rates for the flu shot.
Adults with chronic conditions or special risks: Adults below 65 who have chronic illnesses or are immunocompromised are also eligible for subsidised flu vaccination under the national program.
To give an example of how accessible this is: flu vaccination at Alami Clinic (as with other CHAS clinics) for a CHAS Green card holder or non-CHAS patient costs around $35 out of pocket, but for a CHAS Orange/Blue card holder or Merdeka Generation senior it’s about $18, and for Pioneer Generation seniors it’s about $9. Many patients even pay $0 if they have certain subsidy schemes or if using Medisave. Patients enrolled in Alami Clinic under the HealthierSG program will not need to pay any out-of-pocket fees for the flu vaccination, making it essentially free. The aim is to remove financial excuses getting a flu jab is easier than ever.
When and Why to Get the Flu Shot
Timing-wise, don’t wait until you or your family are already sick. The ideal is to get vaccinated before flu season peaks or before any upcoming travel.
It’s also never too late in the season to vaccinate. Even if flu is already circulating, getting the shot can still protect you for the remainder of the season (better late than never!).
Flu vaccines have a strong safety record. You cannot catch the flu from the vaccine, as the shots use inactivated virus components.
Staying Healthy During Flu Season
Beyond vaccination, good hygiene and healthy habits are key to flu prevention. Wash your hands frequently, wear masks when unwell, and maintain a balanced lifestyle to strengthen your immunity.
Conclusion: Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones
Influenza remains a significant public health concern that we must treat seriously. By understanding the symptoms, testing early, and getting vaccinated, you can protect yourself and those you care about.
At Alami Clinic, we are committed to keeping our community healthy. We offer flu vaccinations (as well as other essential vaccines) both in our clinic and via home visits, and we stock ART test kits that detect flu and COVID-19 for your convenience.
Let’s all do our part to combat the flu: stay informed, practise good hygiene, and get vaccinated if you haven’t done so. A healthy community is the best gift we can give each other.