MWTM Flu Vaccination Initiative

Through the Move with the Mayor™ Flu Vaccination Campaign, mayors are playing an easy yet important role in protecting their communities from the dual threat of COVID-19 and flu by urging people to get vaccinated for flu.

As we enter flu season this fall, many people may not realize that the flu can be especially dangerous in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. With two potentially deadly respiratory viruses circulating this fall and winter, the simple act of getting a flu shot has never been more important.

If you have heart disease, your risk of having a heart attack is six times higher if you get the flu. People who have diabetes are three times more likely to die and six times more likely to be hospitalized due to flu-related complications. Children also are at increased risk of becoming seriously ill from the flu virus. This is just one reason the CDC recommends that everyone age 6 months and older get a flu shot every year.

Flu vaccination is even more critical this year for another important reason. Last year, the precautions we took to protect ourselves from COVID-19 – such as working or attending school from home, wearing masks and practicing social distancing – also helped prevent the flu. Because of that, we all have less natural immunity this year to protect us this flu season.