Okay, we admit it. Sometimes we can sound like a broken record when it comes to getting a flu shot. Everyone older than 6 months should get the flu shot this year, both because predictions of a looming bad flu season are now popping up everywhere and hospital systems, overwhelmed by COVID, simply won’t be able to bear the brunt of suddenly burgeoning hospital admissions due to unvaccinated flu patients. As flu experts from the University of Pittsburgh recently exclaimed, “Our recent modeling work suggests that last year’s tamped-down influenza season could lead to a surge in flu cases this coming season.” These experts go on to predict that as many as 100,000 additional hospitalizations will result from the flu this year, above the typical 400,000-800,000 that happen during a usual flu season. That’s a lot more people getting seriously sick in a health care system already overwhelmed by COVID.

And of course, if you don’t know, you should remember that the majority of serious cases of flu occur in older patient populations, especially those with existing underlying chronic illnesses like heart disease or diabetes. Fortunately, our trusted online geriatrician, Dr. Leslie Kernisan, of Better Health While Aging has just put out her suggestions for flu season for older adults this year. Her recommendations in a nutshell? Get your vaccine now, get the higher dose intended for older adults and make sure you’re also up to speed on your pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine, as that can be a nasty complication of flu. To find out more about her advice, roll up your sleeve and click here.

There’s no doubt, however, that COVID has complicated both the message about flu vaccines as well as the outlook for containing a flu outbreak if it surges the way experts anticipate. Certainly, public opinion polls tell an unsettling story. According to a new opinion poll from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, more than 40% of Americans say they are unsure or definitely not planning to get a flu shot this year. The top reasons cited for not getting the vaccine?  39% said it was because the flu vaccine doesn’t work very well and 36% said they never get the flu so there’s no reason to get the vaccine. Other reasons for skipping the shot include the false belief that the shot itself can give you the flu and concern over side effects from the vaccine. A new survey out from the American Heart Association (AHA) reports even worse numbers: According to the AHA survey, 3 out of 5  adults surveyed said they may delay or skip the flu shot this year. Moreover, a surprising number of Americans are somehow conflating the COVID vaccines and boosters with the flu shot. According to a poll in Axios, there is a mistaken belief among many that the vaccine for one can protect you from the other. For example, 26% believe that the COVID vaccine will also protect you against the flu and 23% believe the flu vaccine will also protect you against COVID. Those mistaken beliefs are unfortunate, especially at a time when vaccine hesitation already exists around many parts of the country. While flu vaccines (and the COVID vaccines) are not perfect, they are the best way to protect you from serious consequences if you contract the flu, including hospitalization or even death. 

Bottom line for older adults hesitating to get a flu shot? If you’re an older adult or caregiver for one, you’re at higher risk of contracting flu than the general adult population, and you’re also at risk for more serious health consequences as a result. The flu vaccine will reduce your risk of being hospitalized from flu as an older adult by over 40%. It’s free if you’re on Medicare and available at most local drugstores. And now is the time to take the shot, as it takes about 2 weeks for the antibody protection to get in place. So don’t hesitate, don’t wait, and do yourself and your loved ones a favor: get inoculated against influenza now.