Clarifications regarding the coexistence of influenza with COVID-19 published by the Ministry of Health.
What is influenza and why is it a concern?
Influenza is an acute respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses and is easily spread from one person to another. It mainly affects the upper respiratory tract and in some cases the lungs. The flu can cause mild to very severe illness. It is reported that approximately 3-5 million people worldwide become seriously ill with influenza and a significant number, 650,000 die from the disease each year. About 70,000 of these deaths occur in the WHO European Region.
Should we be especially worried about the flu this year?
There is concern for this year and it is expected that we will have an increase in the transmission of respiratory viruses, mainly due to the relaxation of the basic measures of prevention and transmission of various viruses, due to the coexistence of influenza with COVID-19 as well as due to the data observed during during the southern hemisphere winter (high flu rates, May-June 2022).
It is important to know that we are not yet done with its pandemic COVID-19 and the possibility of serious illness from both the disease COVID-19 and the flu is taken into account.
What are the differences between it Covid-19 and the flu? How can I recognize if I have the flu or Covid-19? What should I do if I have symptoms?
Both viruses are characterized by high infectivity and cause infection of the respiratory system. In addition, they present the same symptoms (such as fever, cough, shortness of breath). Due to the difficulty of separating the two diseases, in the presence of symptoms, it is recommended to limit yourself to reduce the risk of spreading the infection, especially to vulnerable people.
Who should get the flu shot?
WHO recommends influenza vaccination for people from the following 4 priority groups:
- Health care workers: Health care workers are inevitably exposed to the flu virus through their work, so they should protect themselves from becoming infected as well as from spreading the virus to their patients. Vaccination reduces the risk of transmission of the virus to patients, who are more vulnerable to severe disease. Health professionals are vital to its treatment COVID-19 and therefore, they must be healthy at work to protect patients, be able to work and stay at work themselves and not get sick with the flu.
- Seniors over 65: The immune system weakens with age and becomes susceptible to infections including the flu. Therefore, people over 65 who are infected with the flu virus are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill and being hospitalized and possibly dying.
- Pregnant women: Pregnant women are more prone to severe illness with influenza and this can have a negative effect on the fetus. Vaccination protects both the pregnant woman and the newborn.
- Vulnerable groups: Influenza can be very serious in people who have underlying diseases and co-morbidities such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease. Influenza infection can worsen the general condition of these people and lead to hospitalization and possibly death.
- Children under 5 years of age: They are at high risk of serious illness or complications, such as hospitalization and, rarely, death. Vaccination provides protection to children and also protects people they come into contact with, such as grandparents and other vulnerable groups.
- People living in shelters and closed structures such as prisons, refugee camps and nursing homes: Vaccination can limit the rapid spread of the flu virus in these large groups.
It is important to note that many people who are at risk of serious illness or death from the flu virus are also at high risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19.
O WHO recommends vaccination against influenza and Covid-19 this fall and winter.
What strains of the flu virus does the vaccine protect against?
There are 2 main types of influenza virus – influenza A and influenza B – that lead to the annual flu epidemics, often referred to as seasonal flu. In Europe, we use both trivalent vaccines to protect against 3 strains of flu and quadrivalent vaccines to protect against 4 strains, which cover both types of flu.
How do I know the flu shot is safe and will be effective?
The flu vaccine is the best preventive measure against the flu virus as it protects us from developing serious complications and even death.
Influenza vaccines have been used for over 60 years and have been safely administered to millions of people around the world.
Each year, national drug committees scrutinize each flu vaccine before it is given marketing authorization, and systems are in place to monitor and investigate reports of adverse side effects after vaccination. Although it is rare for unwanted side effects to occur from the administration of the vaccine, if they do occur, they are not serious. In order to provide an optimal level of protection, influenza vaccines are updated annually based on monitoring of seasonal influenza activity in other hemispheres. How effective vaccines are depends on several factors, including age, current health status, and the strains of the virus circulating during the winter season.
Is there a chance of getting the flu from the vaccination?
No, there is no such possibility. The flu vaccine contains 3 different types of flu which are not live. With the administration of the vaccine, our body produces antibodies, which protect us (they are activated and kill it) in the event of an attack by the virus.
Vaccination against it CovidDoes -19 offer any protection against the flu? And conversely the flu shot gives me some protection against it Covid-19;
No, the viruses are different and different vaccines need to be given next.
The WHO recommends the simultaneous administration of a vaccine against influenza and Covid-19 ;
The WHO recommends that countries administer the influenza vaccine together with the vaccine against it COVID 19 – the so-called plus administration – so it is possible.
If I have Covid-19 is it safe to get the flu shot?
It is better to recover from COVID-19 and then to be vaccinated with the flu vaccine, to avoid confusion of symptoms.
If I have Covid-19, does this make me more prone to getting the flu or getting seriously ill?
Until recently there was no clear data to tell when a person is positive for the virus COVID-19 it also becomes more vulnerable to the flu.
Because of the virus pandemic COVID-19 that prevailed, influenza rates were low, so the above correlation was not observed.
However, if someone needs to be hospitalized due to COVID-19 and presents with a respiratory problem, then the risk of serious illness is definitely increased if he subsequently becomes ill with the flu.
Are there times when someone cannot get the flu shot?
Flu vaccines have been safely given to millions of people for decades.
However, in some cases, the seasonal flu vaccine is not recommended or should be given with caution.
The seasonal flu vaccine is not recommended for people with a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose or to any of the ingredients in the vaccine. People with known egg allergies can receive the flu shot, provided they are monitored for at least 15 minutes after administration.
What other measures can I take to protect myself and vulnerable populations from infections this winter?
It is important to take the necessary precautions to protect vulnerable population groups. So the virus COVID-19 and the flu are respiratory viruses and are spread in the same ways - mainly by inhaling droplets from a person when they cough, sneeze, talk or breathe, or when the viruses are transferred by contact from contaminated surfaces. This means that the same measures we had help us and contribute to our protection from the flu. These measures include:
- Use of a protective mask especially in indoor spaces, hospitals, closed structures, medical care facilities and public transport.
- Ensuring good indoor ventilation (especially in crowded and public places)
- Regular hand washing
- Covering the mouth and nose when coughing with a tissue or the elbow.
As we have seen, these measures can work.
What is WHO doing to help countries prepare during the seasonal flu season?
WHO works on influenza throughout the year. With the completion of one season, preparation for the next begins. Preparation includes: surveillance and monitoring of the influenza virus, monitoring of the different strains isolated in clinical laboratories (recommendations every year for the formulation of a new vaccine), bird flu surveillance (monitoring of disease severity and mortality).
How can countries control both the flu and the Covid-19 during the upcoming flu season?
Whether it's the flu or COVID-19, vaccination is the best means we have of preventing disease and reducing the risk of serious complications and even death.
The release of the vaccine for COVID-19 continues to progress in most countries, including low- and middle-income countries. However, millions of people remain unvaccinated in many parts of the WHO European Region. It is important to find better ways to reach these people and increase vaccination coverage rates. It is also important to prioritize the administration of vaccine boosters to vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, the immunocompromised and those with underlying diseases.
In conclusion, the consistent application of the following five interventions can be useful in protecting the population from COVID-19, but also the flu with:
- Increasing vaccination coverage in the general population
- Administering a booster dose of the vaccine to vulnerable groups of the population.
- A booster dose of vaccine against the disease is recommended COVID-19, in persons aged 12 years and older, provided that a period of five (5) months has passed since receiving the last dose of the vaccine.
- Use of a protective mask indoors and on public transport
- Good and adequate ventilation of crowded and public places such as schools, bars and restaurants, offices and public transport
- Preparedness and proper management of cases that may require hospitalization due to serious illness.
The strategy for COVID-19 as well as for other respiratory viruses, of the WHO European Region for autumn/winter, can help countries better prepare to respond to a possible increase in the number of cases COVID-19 and flu.