As we enter our second go-around of fall and winter with the coronavirus pandemic still present, healthcare experts are cautious about the potential for a ‘twindemic’— but what exactly does that mean?

In short, a twindemic is when two pandemics occur simultaneously. This year, specifically, healthcare workers are worried about COVID-19 and influenza cases peaking at the same time.

With hospitals already feeling the pressure of increased COVID-19 cases and those numbers more likely to rise as temperatures drop, flu season coinciding with COVID this year will make it harder not only on healthcare workers, but the communities they care for.

According to information from the United Health Foundation, in 2019, Colorado had a 46.4% flu vaccination rate — slightly above the national average of 43.7%, but still less than half of the entire population. Data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shows about 60% of Coloradoans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but in Moffat County, that number is closer to around 40%.

Carol Bolt, PA-C

Carol Bolt, physician assistant at Memorial Regional Health, is urging the community to get both their COVID-19 and flu shots. Cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are already on the rise within the community, COVID-19 continues to impact all individuals in our community and it’s only a matter of time until flu cases are added to MRH employees’ plates.

“If you get sick, and you are not vaccinated for the flu or COVID-19, it’s more difficult to determine what respiratory illness you have,” Bolt explained. “We want people to get vaccinated for both viruses — but at the very least, please get your flu shot.”

How getting your flu shot can help

October is the perfect time to get your flu shot, as it allows your body enough time to build up its defenses before being exposed to the virus. However, it is never too late to get the vaccine.

Unusually low flu activity in 2020

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that flu activity was unusually low in the 2020-2021 flu season. Bolt speculated this was due to heightened awareness of healthy habits from dealing with COVID-19 — people were wearing their masks, staying home, not traveling, washing their hands and physically distancing from others more regularly.

Moreover, the CDC reported that a record number of influenza vaccine doses were distributed in the U.S. during the last flu season, which may have also contributed to reduced flu illness. Studies show that individuals who receive a flu shot can reduce their risk of getting the flu by 40 to 60 percent.

Who’s eligible? Why should I get this shot?

Nearly everyone is eligible to get a flu shot. Most people older than 6 months can benefit from protection the vaccine provides while also protecting those around them by lowering their chances of becoming infected with the illness.

Bolt said the flu vaccine works similarly to the COVID vaccine in that it doesn’t guarantee you won’t get the flu —you just won’t get it to the same severity. The vaccine also decreases the risk for complications to individuals with comorbidities and helps keep the total number of flu cases down in the community.

Nearly a year in advance, scientists try to predict which strains will be common the following year so that every new flu shot is formulated to fight the latest strains of the virus.

Not only does the vaccine help keep you and those around you healthy, but other benefits of the vaccine include reducing the risk of flu-associated hospitalization and death, offering protection for women during and after pregnancy, preventing flu-related deaths in young children and reducing the severity of the illness in people who are vaccinated but still get sick.

Preparing for COVID-19 and the flu

So, what is the difference between last year’s flu season and this one? This year, we have a powerful tool that wasn’t widely available last year — the COVID-19 vaccine. Both vaccines are safe, effective and thoroughly studied and developed by scientists and medical professionals. Approved by the CDC, individuals can receive both their flu shot and COVID vaccine on the same day, if necessary.

While vaccines are widely available for both viruses, many present-day risks for increased hospitalizations and deaths that could contribute to a twindemic, including:

• Low communitywide vaccination rate for COVID-19
• Less enforcement of mask wearing and physical distancing
• More indoor, in-person events occurring
• More travel across city, state and country limits

Data shows that unvaccinated people are 11 times more likely to die of COVID than those who have received the vaccine, and the twice-as-contagious Delta variant is currently putting unvaccinated individuals of all ages in the hospital — not just the elderly or those with underlying health conditions.

From the healthcare side, Bolt said that with fewer individuals vaccinated, it is harder for providers to diagnose and treat a patient.

“When patients come in now, we’re tasked with determining which respiratory virus they might have — flu, RSV, strep or COVID-19,” she said. “No one wants to have to be repetitively swabbed and tested that many times. The vaccines make it easier to narrow down what condition the patient might have.”

Also, when you receive vaccinations for both influenza and COVID-19, you’re doing your part in protecting others against those respective viruses. On average, 12,000 to 52,000 people in the U.S. die each year from the flu. Since January 2020, nearly 720,000 people have died from COVID-19.

Think of it this way — an influx of COVID-19 and influenza cases could fill ICUs, resulting in less capacity for patients seeking treatment for these diseases, as well as patients who need intensive care for other incidents such as heart attacks or trauma accidents. An increase in respiratory illnesses could result in less access to oxygen or staff to support these patients.

Overall, getting your flu and COVID vaccine is the best way to keep yourself, someone you love or someone in our community from being added to those statistics.

Bolt’s conclusion: “Please be smart — if you’re sick, stay home. If your child is sick, stay home with them. Wear a mask in crowded settings. Wash your hands. Together, we can protect those who cannot be vaccinated for either virus. Together, we can keep everyone in our community safe.”