During National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), the primary public health message has never been more important than it is this flu season: Get your annual flu vaccine now. The recommendation is simple – it applies to everyone age 6 months and older – and it is critically important for those at high risk for flu-related complications, such as young children, pregnant women, older adults, and individuals with certain chronic health conditions, including heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes.
Within the infectious disease community, we have been talking about a double-barreled respiratory virus season, with flu and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) converging. The two viruses share similar symptoms. People with COVID-19 may assume they have flu, and vice versa. It may be hard to tell the difference between the diseases based on symptoms alone, and testing may be necessary to help confirm a diagnosis. Additionally, many of the same people who are most vulnerable to serious complications of COVID-19, including older adults and those with chronic health conditions, are also at greater risk for complications from flu. We cannot place additional burden on an already strained US healthcare system, especially since flu is one of the respiratory viruses that we can actually do something about.
As a nation, we need to prioritize prevention and treatment and can start by following the ‘Take 3’ approach to flu prevention:
1) Get an annual flu vaccine;
2) Practice healthy habits (wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; cover your coughs and sneezes; stay home when you are sick and try to avoid contact with sick people, wear a mask when you go out and stay at least 6 feet apart from other); and
3) Take flu antiviral drugs if prescribed (call your healthcare professional as soon as possible if you have flu symptoms, as flu antivirals may be prescribed to help shorten the severity and duration of your illness).
In fact, if everyone age 6 months and older got vaccinated against flu each year, we could save many lives and reduce the overall burden on the US healthcare system.
Is the flu vaccine perfect? No. Flu vaccine effectiveness can vary from season to season; among different age and risk groups; and even by vaccine type. But it is important that people understand that flu vaccines help prevent tens of thousands of hospitalizations each year, and other serious complications, like heart attack and stroke. Even if you do get flu despite getting vaccinated, you are likely to benefit by having a less severe illness, and you are far less likely to get pneumonia, be hospitalized, or even die.
Influenza viruses circulate every year, and flu has an enormous impact on our society. So, why is it that flu vaccine coverage in the US is so low year after year? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that only 48 percent of US adults were vaccinated against flu during the 2019-2020 season.
NFID recently commissioned a survey of US adults to better understand beliefs around influenza and flu vaccination, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. What we found is both hopeful and concerning:
- 68 percent of US adults think that flu vaccination is the best preventive measure against flu-related death and hospitalization. This is good, because it is.
- 28 percent say the COVID-19 pandemic makes them more likely to get vaccinated against flu during the 2020-2021 flu season.
- However, despite this acknowledgement of vaccination as the best preventive measure and increased intent to get vaccinated against flu amidst COVID-19, still, only 59 percent of adults said they plan to get vaccinated against flu this season.
- Also of concern, the survey showed that more than half (62 percent) of Black adults either are not sure or do not plan to get vaccinated against flu, which is a real problem that must be addressed.
- Among US adults who are at higher risk for flu-related complications – including adults age 65 years and older, and those with diabetes, heart disease, or lung disease – the survey found that nearly one in four were not planning to get vaccinated this flu season. This, too, is a problem.
If there was ever a time to get a flu vaccine, this is the year. We must join together to stop the spread of flu and COVID-19. Many of the steps that help protect against COVID-19 can also help protect against flu.
Visit www.nfid.org/flu to learn more.