Last year, fears of a so-called “twindemic” involving COVID-19 and influenza didn’t materialize, and health officials are asking residents to do what they can so there is no twindemic again this fall and winter.
COVID-19, which began almost 18 months ago, had a hard spike in cases between Halloween and Thanksgiving but flu was barely noticed during the fall or winter months. To Kansas Department of Health and Environment Deputy Secretary for Public Health Ashley Goss, the reason for the lack of flu is obvious: mitigation procedures used against COVID were effective against the flu.
Goss tells KVOE News flu shots are starting to be available now. With a more normal flu season expected, fewer mandated mitigation strategies in use and hospitals already struggling with full emergency rooms and intensive care units, KDHE is urging people to get those vaccinations between now and Halloween.
Goss says people may not realize there aren’t hospital beds available for people who may not have COVID but have other urgent needs like broken bones or other illness treatments. Hospitals are also dealing with increased cases of strep throat, RSV and the common cold at this time.
Both illnesses have similar symptoms, so Goss says the only way to tell the difference is to get tested. Goss says you can get both COVID-19 and flu vaccines during the same visit to your doctor or pharmacist if you so choose.
