Influenza vaccine in light of Corona .. What does “World Health”...

In a statement, the World Health Organization recommended that with the continuation of the Covid-19 pandemic and fears that influenza infection may increase the burden on health care systems, to give the highest priority to health care workers and the elderly in obtaining the influenza vaccine this year, especially in Places where specific quantities of vaccine are available.Health care workers are at high risk of contracting the disease through regular contact with patients, and the influenza vaccine will contribute to minimizing the number of absenteeism due to influenza infection, and reducing the incidence of disruption in the workforce.

The organization indicated that the elderly are exposed to a much greater risk of severe disease and death due to influenza compared to the young, so the vaccine will help reduce the risks to this group of the population. But if the available quantities of the flu vaccine still allow others to get the vaccine, then priority should be given to individuals with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, and children in no particular order.The organization added that the influenza vaccine is the best tool we have for preventing influenza and reducing the risk of serious complications until death, and the effectiveness of the vaccine may vary from year to year, depending on the types of influenza viruses circulating and their conformity with the vaccine.

The effectiveness of the vaccine also depends on the health status and age of the person who received the vaccination, as well as on the time since the vaccination, and on average the vaccine protects against approximately 60% of infections in healthy adults, between the ages of 18 and 64 years. And influenza vaccines become effective about 14 days after vaccination.

The organization explained that individuals need to get vaccinated every year, against influenza viruses because they are constantly changing, and different strains can spread every year, and in addition, people’s immunity against influenza decreases over time, so seasonal influenza vaccines are updated to deal with the most widespread strains. It is common for people who receive these vaccines to acquire the highest possible immunity against these strains.

The organization confirmed that seasonal influenza vaccines are safe and have been used for more than 50 years, and are still given to millions of people, and have a good safety record, and the national regulatory authorities for drugs annually examine each influenza vaccine, carefully before licensing it. Systems are also in place to monitor any report of adverse events after influenza immunization and investigate reports.

The influenza vaccine does not reduce immunity to COVID-19
The organization indicated that the purpose of any vaccine is to train the immune system on how to respond if it encounters the real disease in the future, and this training does not affect the immune system against other diseases, but rather increases its strength to confront the targeted disease, and this immunity may last for a short period or several years Depending on the type of disease and the type of vaccine, the influenza vaccine is considered good for a year, after which the immunity to the disease decreases.

The flu vaccine does not prevent infection with Covid-19
Influenza and Covid-19 are two different diseases, but because both illnesses are respiratory can affect the health of people in severe ways, vaccination against influenza can reduce its effect on a person who may already suffer from Covid-19 disease. It is better for patients and health systems to deal with one respiratory illness rather than two.

The information currently available indicates that the individual who gets the influenza vaccine should be able to obtain the Covid-19 vaccine when this vaccine is approved, and there are now many Covid-19 vaccines under clinical trials around the world, aiming to show whether these are Vaccines are effective and safe against Covid-19, and in the event that any of these vaccines are approved, not everyone will be able to obtain this new vaccine against Covid until after several months. In the meantime, getting the influenza vaccine is the best way to reduce the possibility of developing severe respiratory diseases in the same breath The period during which the Covid-19 virus and influenza viruses are most common.

The organization stresses that there are no known medical contraindications to vaccinating people with Covid-19, and the World Health Organization advises groups at high risk that they should take the influenza vaccine during the Covid-19 pandemic in order to reduce the possibility of developing severe respiratory diseases, due to viruses that spread simultaneously during a season. Influenza, and reduce the burden on the health system.