Influenza

The National Academy of Medicine released 4 reports with COVID-19-influenced recommendations to prepare and respond to an influenza pandemic.

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend hepatitis B, orthopoxviruses, and Ebola vaccines to certain populations, as well as approving 2022 immunization schedules for children, adolescents, and adults.

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) recently sponsored a media briefing addressing the risks of contracting influenza and pneumococcal disease in the midst of a still-flourishing COVID-19 pandemic.

New survey finds little more than half of US adults are planning to obtain vaccination against influenza despite urging by health officials.

New clinical trial is first to describe concomitant administration of any vaccine with either an adenoviral vector or mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

The broad host range and natural reassortment of the influenza virus has played an instrumental role in previous pandemics, and the virus is poised for future large-scale outbreaks.

With the Delta cases surging in recent weeks, and the upcoming flu season almost upon us, here is a glimpse of what providers and the public can expect when both viruses are circulating.

Here are some insights into this upcoming 2021-2022 influenza season as well as concerns of the twindemic and addressing both the seasonal and pandemic viruses simultaneously.

Past research has observed links between cardiovascular disease and influenza infection. Vaccination may benefit at-risk patients.

Final thoughts from experts on controlling COVID-19 and influenza.

Encouraging testing of symptomatic COVID-19 or influenza patients and utilization of available therapeutics.

The concept of the “immunization neighborhood” highlighting the importance of pharmacists in encouraging and administering vaccinations.

The importance of a rapid and accurate COVID-19 and influenza test.

The Status™ COVID-19/Flu A&B - Rapid SARS-CoV-2/Influenza A+B Antigen Panel Test: rapid testing for COVID-19, Flu A&B in one test.

Getting real time results when testing for COVID-19 and influenza.

Importance of properly diagnosing COVID-19 vs influenza to offer therapeutics.

Potential changes within office visits for COVID-19 and influenza.

Differentiating between COVID-19 and influenza.

Challenges in messaging as the understanding of COVID-19 evolves.

Several reasons patients are reluctant to getting the flu vaccine.

Promise of a dual COVID-19/influenza vaccine in development.

Slight variation in the flu vaccine from last season based on limited data.

A discussion on the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the potential impact on the upcoming flu season.

Panel speculates on the upcoming flu season for 2021-2022.

Multiple factors contributing to a lower-than-average flu season in 2020-2021 are discussed.