•The addition of flu could cripple the health care system during the COVID-19 pandemic.•Fears of coronavirus have intensified the shortage of flu vaccine in developing countries.•We present an optimization model for equitable flu vaccine distribution.•The model utilizes an equitable objective function to distribute vaccines to high-risk people.•We present a case study to exhibit efficacy and demonstrate the model’s applicability. The addition of other respiratory illnesses such as flu could cripple the healthcare system during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. An annual seasonal influenza vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. Fears of coronavirus have intensified the shortage of influenza shots in developing countries that hope to vaccinate many populations to reduce stress on their health services. We present an inventory-location mixed-integer linear programming model for equitable influenza vaccine distribution in developing countries during the pandemic. The proposed model utilizes an equitable objective function to distribute vaccines to critical healthcare providers and first responders, elderly, pregnant women, and those with underlying health conditions. We present a case study in a developing country to exhibit efficacy and demonstrate the optimization model’s applicability.