Influenza & Vaccinations in the COVID-19 Era

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Kari Everson

Fall is here again, and so are hot chocolate, cozy sweaters, crackling fires, cool nights, and influenza vaccines!  Long-term care settings should begin planning for annual influenza vaccinations, as they do each fall.

Minnesota's long-term care providers have excellent flu vaccination rates and continue to promote the importance of influenza vaccines for our residents and staff. The need for protection from influenza continues and is, arguably, heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both flu and COVID-19 can be dangerous in our older adult population. Co-infections of these two pathogens can be equally as severe if not more so.

The flu vaccine development this year is no different than in years past. The four strains of influenza utilized in the vaccine were determined in March, and the vaccine is ready for distribution. The influenza vaccine takes on added importance this year as it did last year. The workforce crisis continues and becomes more critical as time goes on. While influenza cases were lower than usual in 2020, likely due to increased PPE use and handwashing, it's crucial to continue our flu vaccination efforts as part of the strategy to keep flu cases low in 2021. 

The Minnesota Department of Health published the 2021-22 Minnesota Fall Flu Guide, which includes resources for providers who vaccinate for influenza, summarizes the season's influenza vaccination recommendations, and provides tips on vaccine administration, storage and handling, and common FAQs. If you haven't already done so, it's time to contact your pharmacies to order vaccines or contact vendors to set up vaccination clinics to work toward a safer flu season for our residents and healthcare workers. 

Notable resources:

MDH Long-term Care Influenza information
MDH Influenza reporting information
CDC 2021-22 VIS Influenza