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Having the flu and Covid-19 together significantly increases the risk of death, say government scientists who urge all people at risk of contracting or transmitting the flu to get vaccinated in the coming weeks and months.
The evidence for the double whammy is currently limited and comes mainly from a study with a small number (58 people) conducted in the UK during the initial phase of the pandemic.
“As I understand it, it is 43% of people with coinfection who died compared to 26.9% of those who tested positive for Covid only,” said England’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam. These were people who had been hospitalized and tested for both viruses, he said, and were very sick, but the death rate from Covid in the study alone between January and April was similar to the known death rate. hospital of Covid in general. of about 25% or 26%.
“I think it is the relative difference in the size of those rates that is far more important than the absolute rate,” he said. The study may have been small and they would be doing more studies this season, but the findings were in line with other work that has been done, he said.
Flu and other respiratory viruses would be circulating this winter, said Professor Yvonne Doyle, England’s chief medical officer for Public Health, and the flu kills between 4,000 and 22,000 people each year; last year, the death toll was 8,000.
“The last thing you really want to have is the flu. And if you think you have the flu or Covid, stay home and isolate yourself, that’s to protect yourself, you would feel very miserable, but also to protect others, “said Doyle.
There was some evidence that the flu and other viruses compete with each other. In the co-infection study, those with the flu were less likely to get Covid. But this is not the year to see which one prevails, Doyle said.
“If you get both, you’re in serious trouble, and the people who are most likely to get both infections may be the same people who can least afford it in terms of their own immune system, or their risk of serious outcomes. So this year, protect yourself from the flu. “
The government has bought 30,000 doses of flu vaccine, more than ever. They will arrive in batches, so seniors (over 65) and people with medical conditions will be called in to get vaccinated first. Family members of those on the protection list will also be called. The lyrics will start coming out this week.
Due to the threat of Covid and the risk that people with the flu will become infected if they are admitted to the hospital, everyone aged 50 to 64 will be offered the flu vaccine, but not immediately. They should wait for their GP to call them.
Two and three year olds, plus all elementary school children and those in the seventh year, first year of secondary school, will be offered vaccination to protect the elderly in their family. Officials hope that all health and welfare workers will be vaccinated this year; last year, 74.3% accepted the offer. Only 44.9% of the “at risk” groups got a flu shot in the past year. It is expected to reach 75% this year.
