Health officials are concerned about the strain on the health care system this fall and winter caused by COVID-19 colliding with the flu.

They are urging Americans to get the flu shot. However, 1 in 3 parents may not get their child vaccinated for the flu.

That’s according to a C.S. Mott Children's Hospital poll of nearly 2,000 people.

Skeptical parents expressed concerns about side effects of the flu vaccine or said they believed the flu shot isn't necessary or effective.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each year.

In comparison, 96% of parents who got their children vaccinated in 2019 said they intended to do the same this year.

The CDC and other health officials say a flu shot during the pandemic is more important than ever, saying children younger than 5 years old, especially those under 2, are at high-risk of developing flu-related complications.