Mission: To save lives and reduce hospitalizations by protecting children, families, and communities against influenza.
Insights on Influenza
  • Flu News & Surveillance
  • Flu Vaccine Information

Fears of a Twindemic: Don’t Delay Flu and COVID-19 Vaccinations

Posted on August 31, 2021
Share this article:

Last year, Families Fighting Flu and health officials warned of a “twindemic” of COVID-19 and flu. The fear was that as cases of COVID-19 continued to rise, and we were awaiting a COVID-19 vaccine, flu would also spread and there wouldn’t be enough hospital beds, ICU beds, ECMO machines, or ventilators.

Thankfully, that never happened. The United States saw record-setting flu vaccination rates, as well as increased social distancing, mask-wearing, and hand washing. The combination of these actions led to only 2,038 cases of influenza. For reference, we normally see anywhere from 9 to 45 MILLION cases of flu per season.

What will happen for 2021-2022?
This year could be different because we have two life-saving vaccines for flu and COVID-19. Sadly, US vaccination rates for COVID-19 are low – just over 50% of the population has received their full dose. Although vaccination rates continue to grow, progress is uneven from state to state. And, we are still awaiting authorization of COVID-19 vaccination for children under 12 years of age. 

Flu vaccination rates are similar to those for COVID-19 – last season we saw the highest vaccination rate of all time, but that was still only estimated at 55% for all adults and 58% for all children. Flu vaccination rates also vary greatly by race/ethnicity. 

These gaps in vaccination rates leave people vulnerable to getting and spreading flu and COVID-19. While we experienced a dip in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations at the beginning of the summer, hospitals are filling up with sick children and adults who need COVID-19 treatment. If and when flu starts to spread, there may not be space to treat those patients too.

Protect Yourself: Get Vaccinated & Mask Up
The best way to keep everyone out of the hospital and get back to our normal lives is to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu. We’ve already seen what happens when one virus takes over – and we don’t need to add flu to the mix.

There is also evidence that masks have worked to prevent flu in the past. Even before COVID-19, healthcare workers used masks during flu season to keep themselves healthy. Masks are a helpful tool to prevent viral particles from spreading when people breathe, talk, sneeze, and cough. 

You might also be interested in...

What You Need to Know About Flu Vaccination During Pregnancy 
Dispelling Common Flu Myths: Debunking Misconceptions About the Influenza Vaccine
Become a Flu Champion Today
Stay Informed
Sign up for our Weekly Flu News and quarterly newsletter, Fighting Influenza, to stay up-to-date on the latest flu news.
Newsletter

LOGO LICENSE AGREEMENT

You are required to accept all of the terms and conditions in this License Agreement in order to receive a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-assignable, royalty-free license to use the FAMILIES FIGHTING FLU, INC. logo, displayed below (the “FFF Logo”), from Families Fighting Flu, Inc. (“FFF”). In order to accept these terms and conditions, you must click the “I Accept” button below.

  1. FFF hereby grants to you, and you accept, a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-assignable, royalty-free license to use the FFF Logo, which you may download and use solely in online and print earned media publications for a period of no more than six (6) months in the United States.
  2. You acknowledge that the FFF Logo is a valid trademark; that FFF is the sole owner of the FFF Logo; and that FFF retains all right, title, and interest in and to the FFF Logo. You agree that any and all use that you make of the FFF Logo, and any and all goodwill arising from your use of the FFF Logo, shall inure exclusively to the benefit of FFF.  You also agree that you shall not challenge the validity of the FFF Logo or FFF’s ownership or title thereto during the term of the License Agreement or thereafter.
  3. You agree that you shall use the FFF Logo only in the form shown above, and that you shall not alter, modify, change, or edit the FFF Logo in any manner.
  4. You acknowledge the valuable goodwill and reputation in the FFF Logo, and that it is essential that the high standards and reputation associated with the FFF Logo be maintained. You therefore agree to use the FFF Logo consistent with the highest standards of quality so as to protect and maintain the FFF Logo and FFF’s rights therein.
  5. FFF shall have the right to review and inspect your use of the FFF Logo at any time. FFF, in its sole discretion, may determine that you are not using the FFF Logo in an acceptable manner and require that you discontinue your use of the FFF Logo.  To the extent that FFF requires that you discontinue your use of the FFF Logo, you agree that you shall remove the FFF Logo from all online and print earned media publications as soon as practicable under the circumstances, and that you shall not use the FFF at any time in the future.
  6. You must include the following notice in connection with any use of the FFF Logo: “The Families Fighting Flu, Inc. logo is the registered trademark of Families Fighting Flu, Inc.”
I Accept