Despite the fact that we’re still in summer, it appears that it’s not too early to be thinking about your annual flu shot. Especially this year. Estimates are that in previous seasons only about 45% of adults received the flu vaccine. But for older adults, already at higher risk for COVID-19 infection, getting those numbers up will be important for keeping people healthy and for lessening the strain on our already overburdened healthcare system.

First, consider the coming flu season while the coronavirus pandemic is still raging. According to the CDC, while it’s too early to get your flu shot right now, (you want to make sure the protection lasts throughout the flu season into 2021), recommendations are that you get your vaccination in September or October. And there’s no doubt that getting a flu shot this year needs to be actively encouraged. We know that routine preventive healthcare has dropped during the pandemic, given both overwhelmed healthcare systems, as well as fear of contracting COVID-19. While getting the flu vaccine will not prevent you from getting the coronavirus, if you do get the flu (without having had the shot), your immune system will be significantly more compromised, making it more possible that you can become infected with COVID.  Furthermore, it’s possible to be infected with both flu and COVID simultaneously. You probably don’t need to be told that having both at the same time will leave you at higher risk for ICU admission or ventilator use. And if you do get the flu after vaccination (as sometimes happens), you are likely to suffer fewer severe symptoms. For some better understanding of flu versus COVID, and why they are really different infections, pull out your thermometer and click here.

One added concern about this year’s flu vaccine, however, especially in relation to the pandemic: Our government’s decision to pull back support from the World Health Organization, due to disputes surrounding the coronavirus, means the US may be at a disadvantage when it comes to developing an effective flu vaccine, as we may not be at the table with the rest of the world examining the data and coming viral trends. 

Despite that, there’s growing evidence of the value of the flu vaccine, not only in preventing flu but in also lowering the risk of other types of illness. First, at the American Heart Association’s Annual International Conference, researchers reported a significant drop in risk for heart attack and stroke for certain adults over 50 who received the flu vaccine. Moreover, researchers report the flu and pneumonia vaccines seem to be associated with reductions in the incidence of Alzheimer’s. As Maria Carrillo, chief science officer of the Alzheimer’s Association stated, “We’ve always known that vaccines are very important to our overall health…maybe they even contribute to protecting our memory, our cognition, our brain.” So roll up your sleeve and read more here.