Although there was very little flu activity last year, experts are concerned that the 2021–2022 flu season could significantly impact respiratory illness cases with people going back to work, kids returning to school, and large public gatherings. The best way to avoid serious health consequences is to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and influenza as soon as possible. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you can safely get both the COVID-19 and flu vaccination simultaneously, but it is recommended to get them in
opposite arms.

The Flu vs. COVID-19

Compared to the flu, COVID-19 can cause more severe illnesses in some people and can take longer for symptoms to show. Symptoms of the flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory illnesses are similar and hard to identify. In fact, people can have both the flu and COVID-19 at the same time; that is why testing is needed to make a diagnosis. The FDA has granted emergency use authorizations to Labcorp and Perkin Elmer to simultaneously test for SARS-COV-s and Influenza A/B.

Vaccine Participation

In the 2021-2022 flu season, vaccine manufacturers are projected to supply the United States with as many as 200 million doses of influenza vaccine. Private manufacturers produce flu vaccines, so supply depends on the manufacturer. According to the CDC, as of October 2021, 139.7 million doses of flu vaccine had been distributed in the United States, yet some COVID-19 vaccine participants are still reluctant to receive a flu vaccine.

Clinics hosted by The Wellness Coalition and partnering organizations have seen many people return to receive a booster, but not the initial
doses. Possible reasons for drops in vaccination numbers include:

  • Low flu activity last season
  • Vaccine fatigue caused by ongoing COVID-19 vaccination efforts
  • Confusion about the need for a flu vaccine this season
  • The belief that the COVID-19 vaccine will protect against flu
  • Changes in healthcare behaviors that result in people making fewer visits to vaccine providers

We encourage you to contact us with any concerns you may have. We can also guide parents on ways to explain the vaccine to their children.

Find out where to get COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, and boosters at https://www.thewellnesscoalition.org/covid/.

You can also learn about ways to stay safe from flu at https://www.thewellnesscoalition.org/flu/.