A new JAMA study found that COVID-19 remains deadlier than the flu, with 35 percent higher mortality in hospitalized patients between October 2023 and March 2024. Although the overall risk of death from COVID-19 has declined over time, it is still “substantially higher” than the risk of death from the flu. The study contradicts common narratives on social media that falsely claim that COVID-19 is “just like the flu.”
Messaging may emphasize that the study’s findings confirm that COVID-19 still poses a threat that should not be minimized. COVID-19 infections hospitalize twice as many people as the flu and have a higher risk of severe illness and long-term complications. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations helps reduce these risks.
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