Key TakeawaysExperts are concerned about the COVID-19 virus coexisting with influenza viruses this fall and winter, particularly for older adults who are at an increased risk for complications for both illnesses.Caregivers can take precautionary measures such as handwashing and making sure older loved ones get a flu shot.Nursing homes and assisted living/long-term care facilities are also taking steps to ensure older residents stay safe.

Key Takeaways

Experts are concerned about the COVID-19 virus coexisting with influenza viruses this fall and winter, particularly for older adults who are at an increased risk for complications for both illnesses.Caregivers can take precautionary measures such as handwashing and making sure older loved ones get a flu shot.Nursing homes and assisted living/long-term care facilities are also taking steps to ensure older residents stay safe.

This year, flu season is coinciding with the ongoingCOVID-19pandemic. Many people are wondering if it’s possible to getinfluenzaand COVID-19 at the same time.

Those who are caregivers for older adults or others who are extra vulnerable to both viruses are especially concerned about a possible “twindemic”—the term now being used to describe a COVID-19 and influenza coinfection.

The risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19 is 5 times higher for people aged 65 and older than it is for younger people, and the risk of death from COVID-19 is 90 times higher for the older adult age group.

“It is possible to get the flu and COVID-19 together at the same time,” Supriya Narasimhan, MD, MS (Epi) atSanta Clara Valley Medical Centertells Verywell. “There have been multiple such cases reported. Co-infection with two or more respiratory pathogens does increase the risk for more severe illness, more complications, and a longer recovery period.”

What This Means For YouThere are several ways you can decrease their risk of getting COVID-19 and the flu. Ensure that you or your loved one practice proper handwashing, wear a face mask, social distance, and get a flu shot.Although flu-shot efficacy varies, the vaccine providers the best chance for preventing the flu—or at the very least, serious illness and flu-related complications.

What This Means For You

There are several ways you can decrease their risk of getting COVID-19 and the flu. Ensure that you or your loved one practice proper handwashing, wear a face mask, social distance, and get a flu shot.Although flu-shot efficacy varies, the vaccine providers the best chance for preventing the flu—or at the very least, serious illness and flu-related complications.

There are several ways you can decrease their risk of getting COVID-19 and the flu. Ensure that you or your loved one practice proper handwashing, wear a face mask, social distance, and get a flu shot.

Although flu-shot efficacy varies, the vaccine providers the best chance for preventing the flu—or at the very least, serious illness and flu-related complications.

A National Concern

The coexistence of the flu and COVID-19 is a major concern for caregivers and providers. Experts are still trying to figure out how often the coinfection actually happens.A study published in June found that influenza/COVID-19 coinfection can occur and has the potential to result in severe illness.

Narasimhan says that when it comes toCOVID-19 and flucoinfection, healthcare providers and organizations must remain vigilant for a few reasons including:

These factors can overwhelm the healthcare system and place additional strain on resources, such as staff and available hospital beds. Caregivers should make every effort to ensure their loved ones are not hospitalized because of COVID-19 and/or the flu.

Do You Have COVID-19 or the Flu?

Why Older Adults Are High-Risk

Many people get the flu and only have mild symptoms that last 1 to 2 weeks.For older adults, the flu can be life-threatening—even fatal. Older adults are at a higher risk for serious illness because as the body ages, the immunity system takes longer to respond. In addition, chronic conditions (such as high blood pressure or diabetes) can decrease immunity even more.

According to the CDC, older adults are the most at risk for serious complications from COVID-19. If an older adult with a slow immune system and one or more chronic conditions becomes infected with the flu andCOVID-19, it could quickly become a life-threatening situation.

General Protection Strategies

In addition to staying home as much as possible,practicing frequent and proper handwashing, and wearing a face mask, Narasimhan says there are a few other steps older adults can take to reduce their risk:

The strategies we can use to prevent COVID-19 and influenza are similar because both are respiratory viruses.

Should Older Adults Get the Flu Shot?

Who Should Get a Flu Shot?

Narasimhan strongly recommends the flu vaccine this season more than ever. “On average, the flu vaccine is about 40-50% effective in protecting against flu. But even if it does not prevent influenza, it does decrease the probability of serious influenza, hospitalization due to flu and complications from flu.”

There are some cases in which a flu shot may not be right for you. If someone has a life-threatening allergy or a history ofGuillain Barre syndrome(an autoimmune neurological disorder), for example, their provider might recommend that they do not get a flu shot.

Safeguarding Nursing Facilities

If your loved one is in a nursing home orassisted living facility, you might be worried about them catching COVID-19 and the flu. Fortunately, some nursing homes are taking increased measures to protect residents from both viruses.

“All residents are encouraged to receive the flu vaccine annually before influenza season begins unless it is contraindicated,” John Mastronardi, MPA, LNHA, executive director of Nathaniel Witherell, a nursing and short-term rehabilitation facility in Greenwich, Connecticut, tells Verywell.

Mastronardi says the facility has already incorporated several safety measures to prepare for a possible “twindemic” including:

How Nursing Homes Are Resuming In-Person Visits

Visitors are limited, but when they are allowed, they must wear a face mask and the facility screens them for any COVID-19 symptoms or known exposure to someone with the virus. Mastronardi says they are encouraging families to use alternative methods of communication with their loved ones, such as video conferencing.

In addition to proactively conducting COVID-19 testing on all residents and staff, Mastronardi says they perform flu testing on residents who exhibit symptoms—even when it’s not flu season.

However, Mastronardi says that the best prevention against serious COVID-19 and flu illness is close monitoring of any physical or mental changes. “It’s extremely important for our staff to know our residents, their preferences, personalities, and routines to ensure that we recognize even subtle nuances in one of our resident’s behavior or routine,” he says.

COVID-19 and Older Adults

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Flu & people 65 years and older.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Coronavirus & older adults.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Frequently Asked Influenza (Flu) Questions: 2020-2021 Season.Ozaras R, Cirpin R, Duran A, Duman H, Arslan O, Bakcan Y, et al.Influenza and COVID‐19 coinfection: Report of six cases and review of the literature.J Med Virol. 2020;92(11):2657-2665. doi:10.1002/jmv.26125Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Influenza.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Misconceptions about seasonal flu & flu vaccines.

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Flu & people 65 years and older.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Coronavirus & older adults.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Frequently Asked Influenza (Flu) Questions: 2020-2021 Season.Ozaras R, Cirpin R, Duran A, Duman H, Arslan O, Bakcan Y, et al.Influenza and COVID‐19 coinfection: Report of six cases and review of the literature.J Med Virol. 2020;92(11):2657-2665. doi:10.1002/jmv.26125Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Influenza.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Misconceptions about seasonal flu & flu vaccines.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Flu & people 65 years and older.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Coronavirus & older adults.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Frequently Asked Influenza (Flu) Questions: 2020-2021 Season.Ozaras R, Cirpin R, Duran A, Duman H, Arslan O, Bakcan Y, et al.Influenza and COVID‐19 coinfection: Report of six cases and review of the literature.J Med Virol. 2020;92(11):2657-2665. doi:10.1002/jmv.26125Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Influenza.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Misconceptions about seasonal flu & flu vaccines.

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Flu & people 65 years and older.

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Coronavirus & older adults.

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Frequently Asked Influenza (Flu) Questions: 2020-2021 Season.

Ozaras R, Cirpin R, Duran A, Duman H, Arslan O, Bakcan Y, et al.Influenza and COVID‐19 coinfection: Report of six cases and review of the literature.J Med Virol. 2020;92(11):2657-2665. doi:10.1002/jmv.26125

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Influenza.

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Misconceptions about seasonal flu & flu vaccines.

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