\n\n“This fall and winter, health experts expect two types of deadly viruses to be circulating widely in the US. But they don\u2019t yet know what the extent of the damage will be when the two collide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the absence of a coherent federal response, the novel coronavirus<\/a> continues to spread across the country, with several states still battling active outbreaks<\/a>.Experts estimate it could continue to hospitalize thousands and kill hundreds of people<\/a> a day into September \u2014 likelywith more spikes in the coming months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re also now staring down the annual flu season, which typically starts in October and burdens the health care system even in normal years. The 2018\u20132019 flu season in the US, for example, resulted in about half a million<\/a> hospitalizations and more than 34,000 deaths. The previous season, deaths were double that<\/a>. And communities of color, which have already been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19<\/a>, historically have also been more likely to have chronic health conditions that put them at higher risk<\/a> of influenza-related complications.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n …<\/p>\n\n\n\n “One problem is that because influenza and Covid-19 are both respiratory viruses, severe cases will be treated on much of the same limited medical equipment, like ventilators. And because they can have overlapping symptoms, figuring out whether someone has the flu or Covid-19 \u2014 or neither \u2014 will be tricky but also important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, we already have a safe vaccine for the flu, and nearly 200 million doses are slated to be available in the coming months.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n …<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that everyone 6 months and older (with\u00a0very rare<\/a>\u00a0exceptions, like a life-threatening egg allergy) should get a flu shot. And this year, it is more crucial than ever to get one, experts say, to reduce the spread of the virus and keep the health care system from being overtaxed with continued surges of Covid-19.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n