The flu vaccine is effective against Covid-19
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A Dutch team claims that the flu vaccine would protect against both infections.
This year, the flu epidemic is especially feared by hospitals currently facing Covid-19 and fear having to deal with a massive influx of patients. In this unprecedented health context, the new vaccination campaign prioritizes the most vulnerable people and the nursing staff.
The seasonal flu vaccine coverage target set by the World Health Organization is 75% for the populations targeted by the recommendations. Thus, priority is given to people aged 65 and over, people with chronic pathologies, people with a BMI greater than 40, pregnant women, those around those under six months of age, and immunosuppressed people. These people are also the ones at risk of developing a severe form of Covid-19.
Induce an immune response
A new study points to another good reason to get a flu shot. In fact, the research results ensure that this vaccine would also protect against Covid-19. These conclusions, made by a Dutch team, were published on the MedRxiv server as Futura Sciences reports, the researchers found that hospital staff vaccinated against the flu last year were 39% less likely to be infected with the new coronavirus than other patients. .
The scientists claim that the quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine used in the Netherlands during the 2019-2020 influenza season was able to induce an immune response as well as an enhancement in cytokine responses.
"In conclusion, an inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine can induce elicited immune responses against SARS-CoV-2, which may result in relative protection against Covid-19. These data, along with similar recent independent reports, justify an effect benefit of influenza vaccination against influenza and Covid-19, and suggests its effective deployment during the 2020-2021 influenza season to protect against the two infections, "the study summarizes.
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