Flu shots could prevent "Twindemic"

Flu season will soon be here and public health experts are warning of a "twindemic"--a dual threat of seasonal flu and coronavirus that could overwhelm the healthcare system

Do to help.

Doctors say getting your flu shot -- is always important -- but this year it's critical.

Dr. dana hawkinson, ku med.

Dir.

Of infection control & prevention: right now there is a very low influenza activity in the united states.the worry is that a "twindemic" or the potential of seasonal flu outbreaks overlapping with the coronavirus crisis disastrous and deadly.dr. susan rehm, cleveland clinic: anything we can do to prevent influenza and to prevent covid, of course, we want to do."it's the last thing an already strained health care system needs.medical experts say they can't tell you exactly how bad it will be if you get the flu and coronavirus at the same time.

But they say you probably shouldn't roll that dice.dr. susan rehm, cleveland clinic: "we anticipate that there will be some people coming up who have both covid-19 and influenza at the same time, which would be very devastating obviously, and increase the risk of death from one or both of them.

Separately we know --the flu is serious.during 2019 -- there were somewhere between 410,000 and 740,000 hospitalizations for and about 24,000 to 62,000 flu deaths.

Then there's the deadlier coronavirus -- with more than 389,000 hospitalizations and 187,000 deaths we already have a vaccine for one of these threats.dr. dana hawkinson, ku med.

Dir.

Of infection control & prevention: it is fully recommended for anyone six months of age and older to get the influenza vaccine that has not changed."and getting it -- while also practicing good covid-19 prevention techniques could help us prevent a twindemic, overwhelming our hospitals, business and schools from closing,dr. steve stites, ku med.

Chief med.

Officer: "when we keep each other safe, we get to normalcy a lot faster.

When we don't keep each other safe, you see that's when trouble comes so stay out of trouble.

Shelter in place when you can, get out in public but when you do it wear a mask, keep your distance when you're sick, stay home when you are sick."

And it could save lives.

Reporting in st.

Joseph,