Pharmacists are encouraged to speak to members of their community about getting both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time

The flu can cause up to 5 million cases of respiratory disease globally and 650,000 deaths each year. This 2022-23 flu season in the Northern Hemisphere arrived earlier than expected and we are also seeing a concerning increase in the number of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases.

The 2022-23 flu season preliminary data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that in the US alone, there have already been an estimated 22-43 million illnesses caused by influenza, 10-21 million medical visits, 230,000 – 490,000 flu hospitalisations, and 14,000 – 43,000 flu deaths. This is an incredible strain on the healthcare system.