Five reasons to get a flu shot during the COVID-19 pandemic

1. The flu may return

Last year, if the flu was a shame, This fall she may come back into force, Michael Curry, Professor of Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Influenza viruses are coming back and circulating.

The relative absence of influenza viruses last season Lowers our immunity, According to the Province Chief Medical Officer of Health, Bonnie Henry. This year, it is important to get the influenza vaccine, She said in a press release.

Dr Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Center for Infectious Diseases, agrees: We had very few cases last year. So there is no group immunity in the communities.

You are expected to have a very severe flu season.

2. Flu and COVID-19 may not mix well

Since there were relatively few influenza cases last season, it is difficult to fully understand how mixed influenza and COVID-19 infection can occur.

Knowing that the flu can lead to a weakening of the immune system, It can be particularly serious for both infections, Dr. Conway feared.

3. Avoid congestion in hospitals

Influenza is a respiratory disease that poses a serious risk to people over the age of 65, reminding health officials that they are trying to prevent overcrowded hospitals that are already under pressure from Kovid-19.

During the pandemic, it was important to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with the parallel outbreak of influenza and COVID-19 to reduce the burden on the Canadian health care system., Says Health Canada.

As we spend more time with our loved ones at home, it is important to be fully immunized against Kovid-19 and the flu.

British Columbia health officials open flu vaccine clinics.

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Photo: (Evan Mitsui / CBC)

4. It is safe to combine the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

Individuals who are immunocompromised from COVID-19 need not worry about receiving Another vaccine, According to health experts.

People believe that getting vaccinated puts stress on their immune system, Said Dr. Curry of the University of British Columbia. However, the human body is already responding The lives of thousands of people, millions of people, allergens and microbes every day, He argues.

The BC Center for Disease Control says all Kovid-19 vaccines can be inactivated or combined with another vaccine for survival.

In fact, 99.9% of vaccines can be combined, Amit Johal, Medical Director and Pharmacist at Immunize.eo, promoting non-profit vaccination. Because COVID-19 and influenza have different immune responses, getting both vaccines provides better protection.

There is no risk, on the contrary, there are many advantages.

If you get the flu, it can reduce the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine. Care should be taken to ensure that the vaccine is as effective as possible against Kovid-19, Argues Dr. Conway.

According to Chief Medical Officer of Health Bonnie Henry, the relative absence of influenza viruses last season has reduced immunity in the population.

Photo: Canadian Press / Andrew Vaughn

5. Optimizing the effect of an incomplete vaccine

On the other hand, the flu shot is frequent Optimized Depending on the species that dominated the previous year.

With less data on influenza cases last season, The vaccine used this year has a great chance of not fully agreeing with the viral strains that are spreading in the community, Dr. Conway explains.

It is important that people be vaccinated to optimize the effectiveness of the incomplete vaccine., He concluded.

In Canada, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends an influenza vaccine for people over 6 months of age.