This year, it is more important than ever for people to get their flu shot. As we head into the dry, cold weather, flu season, COVID-19 cases are also surging and people in the United States and around the world should definitely not want to risk catching coronavirus and the flu at the same time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 38 million people across the United States were infected by influenza during the 2019-2020 flu season and this resulted in an estimated 22,000 deaths.[1] With over 230,000 deaths related to COVID-19 in the country since January and the contaminations rising in most places as winter approaches, this flu season during the pandemic could result in surges in severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths, and further hurt the American health care system and economy.[2]

With winter approaching all around the Northern Hemisphere, people are preparing for what has already been named a “twindemic,” meaning the joint threat of the coronavirus and the seasonal flu. While it is known that seasonal vaccinations reduce the risk of getting the flu by up to 60% and also reduce the severity of the illness after the contamination, additional research has been conducted in order to know whether or not flu shots could reduce the risk of people getting COVID-19. Indeed, a study reported by Scientific American, found that healthcare workers who got the flu vaccine ahead of the 2019-2020 season were 39% less likely to test positive for the coronavirus by June 1.[3] The research also found that 2.23% of healthcare workers who had not gotten a flu shot tested positive to COVID-19, while 1.33% of vaccinated ones did. This result aligns with previous research which has shown that vaccines targeting a specific virus, such as polio or measles, can help train the body and its immune system to fight other viruses.[4] While the causal linkage behind the research reported in Scientific American must be further explored, the results and what they suggest must be another motivating factor for people to get their flu shots in an attempt to fight the flu and potentially COVID-19. 

As it has been shown with this new virus, becoming sick with one respiratory illness puts people at higher risk for other diseases. The stress of fighting off a respiratory illness weakens the immune system. As such, contracting the flu could put individuals at a higher risk for experiencing a more severe case of COVID-19 should they become dually infected. While both coronavirus and the flu can cause pneumonia, fluid in the lungs, respiratory failure, sepsis, and cardiac injury among other conditions, having both viruses simultaneously may result in longer term conditions and slower recovery.

In addition to the flu shot, it is essential that people remain vigilant in maintaining proper social distancing, washing your hands thoroughly, and continuing to wear masks in public spaces. Countries in the Southern Hemisphere are ending their flu season as they head into summer months and experienced surprisingly low rates of flu infections.[5] How did they do this? By enforcing strict coronavirus prevention techniques. The same practices that are designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are effective at protecting individuals from contracting the flu. In these circumstances, it is important that we hold each other accountable for our actions and our decisions. While it is not 100% effective, taking the flu shot has shown to significantly reduce the chances of being infected and reduces the severity of sickness should you be infected.[6] In the context we are in, vaccination is necessary if we want to fight and ultimately eradicate this plague. 

Sources:

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Estimated Influenza Illnesses, Medical Visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths in the United States - 2019-2020 Influenza Season. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/2019-2020.html

[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. United States COVID-19 Cases and Deaths by State. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#cases_casesinlast7days.

[3] Moyer, Melinda Wenner. “A Flu Shot Might Reduce Coronavirus Infections, Early Research Suggests.” Scientific American, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2020,https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-flu-shot-might-reduce-coronavirus-infections-early-research-suggests/.

[4] Woodward, Aylin. “Getting a Flu Shot Could Reduce Your Risk of Getting COVID-19, Preliminary Research Suggests.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 28 Oct. 2020, https://www.businessinsider.com/flu-shots-linked-lower-risk-covid-19-study-2020-10

[5] Richards, S. 2020. What happens if you catch flu and COVID-19 at the same time? National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/09/flu-coronavirus-same-time-frequently-asked-questions-twindemic-cvd/

[6] Yan, H. 2020. Yes, you can have COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. Here’s what that could do to your body. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/11/health/covid-flu-together-health-impact/index.html