Rita Wilson beat COVID-19: Now she wants you to get a flu shot (and wear a mask)

Rita Wilson and her husband Tom Hanks recently overcame the coronavirus, and now the singer/songwriter/actress wants people to keep their guard up as flu season approaches. "I am a flu shot getter generally, but I also had COVID-19 and it was horrible and I don't want to get it again," Wilson tells Yahoo Life. In addition to strongly encouraging everyone, but particularly those at risk, to get a flu shot, Wilson also spoke to the issue of wearing masks - and how it's become a political issue. Unfortunately it's been politicized which is so unnecessary," she says. "But so many of the people that didn't wear masks and went to places ... got the flu, got the COVID-19 virus. And some of those people died." She adds, "I wouldn't want that to happen to even somebody who doesn't think they should be wearing a mask. I don't want that person to get sick either."

Video Transcript

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RITA WILSON: I've watched the thing with masks, and unfortunately, it's been politicized, and-- which is so unnecessary. But so many of the people that didn't wear masks and went to places and went to vacations and went to conventions got the COVID-19 virus, and some of those people died. And I wouldn't want that to happen to even somebody who doesn't think they should be wearing a mask. I don't want that person to get sick, either. So I hope that they reconsider.

I am a flu shot getter, generally, but I also had COVID-19, and it was horrible, and I don't want to get it again. And it seems to me like such a simple thing to be able to say, hey, you know, if you're riding in my car, can you put on your seatbelt, because I want to keep you safe. And that's the way I look at wearing a mask or getting a flu vaccine. It's like, I want to keep you safe, I want to keep me safe. I don't want anybody to get sick that doesn't have to get sick.

I feel that the reason why I want to get this message out there is because I used to be a person that thought, you know, I-- that kind of stuff happens to other people. It doesn't happen to me. And then I got breast cancer, and then I got COVID-19. And when I got COVID-19, I was prepared for it in the sense that I could get it because I was the one person out of eight that got breast cancer.

I understand that there are concerns about, oh, if I get the flu shot, you know, do I have to go to my doctors, or where am I going to get it? How am I going to get it? Am I going to get sick by getting the flu shot? Am I going to get-- do I expose myself to COVID-19? And the thing that I would say is to really talk to your health care provider or your doctor about that. And there are safe protocols for getting a flu shot, and your doctor is going to be able to tell you what those are.

I feel totally back to normal. I'm in really good health. It feels good to feel that way, but I also am aware that I could get the flu. So I am going to go get a flu shot and take care of myself, stay hydrated, keep practicing handwashing and social distancing and mask wearing and a lot of gratitude.

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