• Science & Research

Survey Results: The Intersection of COVID-19 and Flu

Below is part 3 of this blog series featuring key insights on flu and COVID-19 from our recent national consumer survey.

The number of people across the U.S. diagnosed with COVID-19 continues to rise as we get closer to the upcoming flu season, and Families Fighting Flu continues to sound the alarm about the importance of getting an annual flu vaccination this year.

A few weeks ago, we conducted a national consumer survey to understand Americans’ attitudes and beliefs about the flu, COVID-19, and immunizations. We found that while people agree COVID-19 and flu are serious, about one-third of respondents, especially young adults, do not feel they are vulnerable to hospitalization or death from either.

More than 40% do not agree it is important to receive an annual flu vaccination to remain healthy and not burden the healthcare system during the upcoming flu season. Medical experts and healthcare professionals disagree. To avoid a potentially deadly intersection of seasonal flu and COVID-19, we need to substantially increase flu vaccination rates in children and adults.

Families Fighting Flu National Survey Results: Highlights

How concerned are people about coronavirus and flu?

• According to our survey, people agree that coronavirus and flu are serious, but approximately 1/3 of respondents do not feel they are vulnerable to hospitalization or death from either
• Respondents feel slightly more susceptible to being at risk for coronavirus (64%) than the flu (58%)
• Overall, people do not think flu and coronavirus are health issues that can compound one another, which is not true
• If stay at home orders for COVID-19 are in place this upcoming flu season, 59% of respondents are moderately to not at all likely to get a flu vaccine
• 61% agree that when a coronavirus vaccine is approved and available, they will get it right away

Why is it especially important for everyone (6 months and up) to be vaccinated against flu this year?

• Help protect yourself, your family, and others within your community (the more people that are vaccinated, the less the disease can spread)
• Reduce flu-related illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths
• Avoid straining the healthcare system in anticipation of ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks
• Decrease confusion and panic – COVID-19 and flu symptoms are very similar, but the infection rate, complications, and treatment can differ
• Being sick with flu could lower your immunity and make you more susceptible to other circulating diseases

Take Action Today: Make the Families Fighting Flu Vaccination Promise

The Families Fighting Flu Vaccination Promise encourages people to get a flu vaccination and help curb simultaneous flu and COVID-19 activity during the upcoming season. Sign up to make the Promise — commit to getting your annual flu vaccine by a selected date — and Families Fighting Flu will email a reminder to you of your Families Fighting Flu Vaccination Promise. Together, we can make a difference.

Learn more about Families Fighting Flu survey results by reading the first and second blog posts of this series.

Survey Methodology
• Survey conducted by Remington Research Group May 26 – 28, 2020 via live calls to landlines and cell phones as well as digital panels pushed via SMS to 1,446 adults
• Weighted survey to match U.S. Census demographics
• Margin of error: +/-2.5% with a 95% level of confidence
• Conducted in collaboration with Sanofi

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