The current flu season is reminiscent of Christmas 2020 with an increase in infections, rising hospitalizations and school closures due to infections. Flu affects other groups of people differently than covid-19, but downplaying it is dangerous. Precautions from the covid pandemic, such as vaccination, isolation and ventilation, help limit the spread of infection and are still in place. There were no significant epidemics during the 2020/21 flu waves because covid measures did not effectively control the flu virus. Lessons from covid should serve to better build responses to predictable winter pressures. However, after five years, governments and institutions are still ignoring the necessary systemic measures.