Flu season is ahead of us but new poll finds Utahns aren’t concerned

SALT LAKE CITY– Utah can expect an early and severe flu season according to reports from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

Although flu activity is currently low in Utah, health officials said they are seeing flu activity both in the Southern hemisphere as a whole and in neighboring states. To stay up to date with flu trends in Utah you can visit Utah’s report tracker. 

A new poll suggests Utahns aren’t fearful of contracting any illnesses this winter season, and that only about 30% say they are. 

Conducted by Deseret News and Hinckley Institute of Politics, the poll found nearly 7 out of 10 Utahns range from either ‘not very’ or ‘not at all’ concerned about contracting COVID or the flu this winter. 

Health officials said this is because most have already dealt with one of those illnesses or have already received a flu vaccine. 

“In the minds of an overwhelming majority of Utahns, COVID has joined the ranks of other viruses like the flu that are here to stay…” said Hinckley Institute of Politics Director Jason Perry, “… but no longer of serious concern because of experience, natural immunity, and vaccinations,” 

Health officials say Utahns should still consider getting their flu shots and COVID-19 vaccinations to prevent a “double whammy” this flu season. 

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