Hospitals are bracing for a disease double-header as COVID-19 cases are on the rise across the region and doctors are anticipating an increase in influenza cases on the horizon.

“Pretty soon we’ll be seeing cases of influenza creeping into the office. I’ve seen a couple of cases already,” said Dr. Robert Tracy.

Tracy is medical director for quality with St. Elizabeth’s physicians.

Tracy said the number of COVID cases at St. Elizabeth were holding steady but that changed in recent weeks.

“It’s really in the last two weeks, I’d say our numbers started to climb noticeably, where they had been kind of quiet,” Tracy said.

Doctors are asking people to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The CDC recommends people get the flu vaccination by Oct. 31.

Hospital capacity is holding in the good range around the region, but the concern is if COVID and flu cases rise at the same time.

“Hospitals are almost universally busier during the winter-time because of flu, because of other respiratory viruses,” said UC Health infectious diseases physician and associate chief medical officer Dr. Jennifer Forrester.

Forrester said people should get their flu shot now.

“It takes about two weeks for the flu shot to give you full protection. So at this point, the earlier the better,” Forrester said.

St. Elizabeth set up a drive-thru flu shot stop at the baseball stadium where the Florence Y’alls play. The plan is not only to give out as many flu shots as possible but to test another plan.

“It’s a pilot for how to do mass vaccination in the community because we anticipate when the COVID vaccine comes out, people are going to want to get it,” Tracy said.

When the COVID vaccine is available, Tracy said it’ won’t be efficient to give it at hospitals and doctor’s offices. That’s why they are testing the drive-thru sites.

“We can’t clog our primary care offices with people coming in to get the vaccine because we still have to take care of other illnesses,” Tracy said.