For the second consecutive winter, influenza has outpaced COVID-19 in the U.S., with approximately 25 million flu cases compared to between three to nine million COVID-19 infections since October. While COVID-19 is now considered endemic and symptoms have generally become milder due to increased population immunity, it remains a significant threat with a death toll comparable to that of the flu. Experts suggest that the high prevalence of influenza may be “crowding out” COVID-19 by generating non-specific immunity, though they remain uncertain about the trajectory of future variants. Despite the continued risks, COVID-19 vaccination rates among vulnerable groups have declined by 9% amid a shift in federal policy that has reduced vaccine recommendations and halted development contracts.
Date: March 4, 2026. Source: independent.co.uk