Last year's flu season was exceptionally mild due to strict COVID-19 protocols keeping the spread of the flu virus at a minimum.
But this year's flu season could spell a different story, as many pandemic restrictions are easing and fewer people get the flu shot than they should.
Some people who don’t get the flu shot and get the virus wind up fine, but a lot of people could wind up extremely sick and even hospitalized and die, according to Dr. Jeffrey Silvers, infectious disease expert and medical director of Pharmacy and Infection Control at Sutter Health on KCBS Radio's "Ask an Expert."
"It’s kind of analogous to wearing a seatbelt," he said to KCBS Radio's Holly Quan and Dan Mitchinson. "If you do get into an accident, it's good that you have it on."
When COVID-19 first became widespread, there were also cases of the flu virus popping up in the Bay Area as well, with some people contracting both at the same time. Those people fared worse than others, said Silvers.
Last year's distancing, masking, and increased handwashing and sanitation weren’t the only factors causing the flu to go dormant. COVID-19 itself caused the flu to quiet down, through "viral interference," which is where viral reproduction is inhibited by previous exposure of cells to another virus.
"But it will be back," Silvers cautioned. "And when it comes back we will probably see a 'twindemic' and those people will be at increased risk of having severe disease," said Silvers.
When it does return, most likely beginning in the next month or so, it will have a widespread effect.
The best way to prevent that from happening is to get vaccinated and get the flu shot, he said.
The flu shot has been around for decades, and although the COVID-19 has been shown to be more effective than the flu shot, "they both work at saving lives," said Silvers.
People can get them at the same time, or days apart, it doesn't really matter. According to Silvers, a typical flu season starts end of November and extends into the end of February.
Everyone should get immunized for the flu by the end of October and women in their third trimester of pregnancy should get the shot now so the antibodies will pass to the baby.
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