Worried about a one-two punch from a bad flu season combined with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials are urging residents to get the flu vaccine this year.
The fear is that too many people could be hospitalized because of what’s been called a “twindemic,” straining the health care system.
“We’re strongly recommending people get their influenza vaccine. A primary reason is that flu can cause people to be severely ill and need hospital services,” said Dr. Greg Stern, Whatcom County health officer. “If we can do everything we can to avoid that, we’ll be reserving hospital capacity to take care of things that aren’t preventable.”
As for when you should get a flu shot from your doctor or pharmacist, the answer is soon.
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Learn more about the flu and the upcoming flu season at cdc.gov/flu.
“Getting vaccinated in July or August is too early, especially for older people, because of the likelihood of reduced protection against flu infection later in the flu season,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, adding that people should aim for September or October.
“However, as long as flu viruses are circulating, vaccination should continue, even in January or later,” the CDC says.
The CDC recommends that people 6 months and older get an annual vaccine to protect themselves and to reduce the risk of hospitalization because of the flu. About 51.1% of adults and 63.8% of children in Washington state get a flu vaccine — percentages that are higher than overall U.S. totals, according to the most recent CDC estimates.
As they looked toward fall and winter, public health officials said getting the vaccine this flu season is especially important.
Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officer for Seattle and King County, said the flu was a “tremendous complicating factor” during a Friday, Aug. 14, virtual briefing that delved into a report on reopening schools in Washington state depending on community rates of COVID-19.
That is, in part, because symptoms for both can be similar and people seeking testing could put “stress on our testing capacity,” he said.
A flu vaccine could minimize people’s risk of having the flu and confusing it with COVID-19, he said.
It’s not yet known what kind of a flu season we might have, according to Stern.
What is known is that the concern about having enough health care capacity goes beyond flu and the new coronavirus.
“I don’t know how severe a season this will be for flu. I’m not sure what’s going to happen with COVID,” Stern said. “A combination of more widespread transmission of COVID plus a bad flu season would really add to the need for hospital care.”
“It’s also something that would be happening all over the region, so it will impact our ability to move patients to hospitals” that have open beds “since they’ll be impacted also,” Stern added.
Overwhelming hospital systems mean that beds might not be available for people suffering heart attacks, strokes or injuries, Stern explained.
“It really impacts all of us,” Stern said.
