Prevention Is Critical During Cold and Flu Season

Each year, cold and flu season results in hundreds of thousands of deaths due to influenza, RSV and COVID-19. Doing your part to avoid these preventable illnesses is an easy way to minimize the risk of a tragic event – so you can continue to be there making memories with your loved ones.

We’re always looking to do the most for the ones we love. That mindset likely drew you to AAA Life in the first place: life insurance is a great way to make sure those you care for are better protected in the event something should happen to you.

As a life insurer, AAA Life serves to protect our policyholders and their families in the event of an unexpected tragic loss. But unexpected does not have to mean unpreventable.

One of the simplest ways you can help protect yourself and your family is by making sure you have the latest facts on the vaccinations available to you. 

Talk to your healthcare professional

Annual check-ups are an important part of your overall health, and while you’re there, you should talk to your healthcare professional to make sure you’re current on your vaccinations. 

Many of the deaths from influenza, RSV and COVID-19 are preventable, and vaccines have proven effective in lessening symptoms and decreasing the risk of death should you end up getting sick. Consider the following data from the CDC:

•    The flu vaccination was associated with a 31% lower risk of death from flu compared to those who are unvaccinated.¹

•    At least 100,000 older adults end up hospitalized from RSV, so all adults 75 and older should get vaccinated, and adults 60-74 should if they are at risk for severe disease.²

•    Those who receive the COVID-19 vaccination are 14 times less likely to die than those who receive no vaccine.³

•    Those with an updated COVID-19 vaccination are three times less likely to die than those who only received the original vaccine.³

•    The risk of death from COVID-19 for those who have not received the vaccine rises substantially as you age – jumping from 25 times higher for those ages 50-64 to 60 times higher for those ages 65-74.⁴

Your medical care is a personal choice, and the CDC advises getting your annual influenza and COVID-19 vaccines (and RSV, depending on age) to reduce the impact of those illnesses should you contract them.⁵

And really, who wants to get sick? You have seasonal outings to attend and holiday memories to make with your family – updated vaccinations give you the best possible chance to enjoy those moments while you’re feeling your best.
 

Doing your part to stay healthy

While 62% of Americans say the COVID-19 vaccine’s benefits outweigh its risks, only 34% report having the most recent booster shot. That means about 66% of Americans do not have the most up-to-date protection, according to the Pew Research Center.⁶

Despite the availability of a vaccine, the CDC reported that over 76,000 people died in 2023 as a result of COVID-19.⁷ 

Vaccines can help protect you in additional ways, including lessening the risks of additional complications that these viruses can cause. In the case of influenza, the CDC reported 5,944 deaths in 2022 but nearly eight times that number of deaths (47,052) from influenza and pneumonia.⁸

Similarly, COVID-19 is an additional risk for those with diabetes or heart disease but can also cause pneumonia, respiratory issues, and long-term issues with the heart or other organs.⁹ 

These are all preventable conditions that can keep you from focusing on what you care about most: spending time with your loved ones. As a life insurance provider, AAA Life is dedicated to helping keep you and your loved ones better protected.

From your first interaction with AAA Life, to the moment you become a policyholder and every moment after, we promise to be there when you and your family need us most. For more information on life insurance options available to you, visit aaalife.com/getting-started.  




 

¹Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine. CDC. Sept. 17, 2024.

²Hernandez, Sally. New RSV vaccine guidelines: Adults 75+ urged to vaccinate. MSN. Oct. 11, 2024.

³Johnson et al. COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality Among Unvaccinated and Vaccinated Persons Aged ≥12 Years by Receipt of Bivalent Booster Doses and Time Since Vaccination – 24 U.S. Jurisdictions, October 3, 2021-December 24, 2022. CDC. Feb. 10, 2023. 

⁴Underlying Conditions and the Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19. CDC. July 30, 2024. 

⁵2024-25 Respiratory Disease Season Outlook. CDC. Aug. 29, 2024.

⁶Funk et al. What Americans think about COVID-19 vaccines. Pew Research Center. May 16, 2023.

⁷Provisional COVID-19 Mortality Surveillance. CDC. Oct. 10, 2024.

⁸National Center for Health Statistics: Influenza. CDC. Sept. 4, 2024.

⁹Seed, Shawna. Complications Coronavirus Can Cause. WebMD. Aug. 9, 2021.