Healthy Habits: Avoiding a Potential "Twindemic"

Last year, as the United States entered its third wave of COVID-19, lockdowns and mitigation techniques kept people distanced and helped prevent a severe flu season. As a result, according to a new survey, three in five Americans say they may delay or skip the flu shot this season. 

Now amidst a different pandemic environment and laxed social distancing that has prompted influenza’s inevitable resurgence, annual vaccination remains the best way to protect ourselves and families. 

Influenza vaccination is critical in helping to avoid a potential ‘twindemic’ and alleviate the burden on our healthcare system. According to the CDC, it is both safe and effective for a COVID-19 vaccine to be co-administered with a seasonal flu vaccine and may even improve the uptake of both vaccines/boosters.

 

Key Flu Facts:

• Influenza vaccination prevents hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations each year and can alleviate the growing burden on our healthcare system 

• Flu vaccine is especially critical for protecting vulnerable populations, including young children, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions

• Children under 18 years of age suffered nearly 52,500 flu-related hospitalizations and 434 deaths in 2019/20, which is why it’s critical for parents of children under 18 years of age to be vigilant about vaccination

In this interview, Shelle Allen, President, Families Fighting Flu (a national, nonprofit, advocacy organization dedicated to protecting children, families, and communities against the flu) discusses the importance of flu vaccines and help families plan for it. Shelle has a personal connection to this issue. Her daughter, Madi Allen, was placed on life support when she was 12 years old as a result of influenza, and even had part of her left lung removed more than a decade later due to long-term effects. 

Joining Shelle is Gregg Sylvester, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Seqirus, a global leader in influenza prevention, which is partnering with Families Fight Flu, urging them to take a “Promise” to stay on track for flu vaccines.

Interview is courtesy: Seqirus and Families Fighting Flu