COVID-19 and flu
– Should you still have the flu shot ?
Dr Morgan Mkhatshwa , Head of Operations , unpacks the differences and similarities between ‘ flu ’ and COVID-19 , how it affects your body and offers compelling reasons why you should consider getting the flu vaccine this year .
Every year , seasonal influenza ( flu ) kills around 11 500 people in South Africa alone . To date , COVID-19 has resulted in around 50 000 deaths in South Africa . While the true mortality of the coronavirus will take some time to fully understand , the crude mortality ratio ( the number of reported deaths divided by the reported cases ) is between 3-4 %. For seasonal flu , mortality is usually well below 0.1 %. However , mortality is to a large extent determined by access to and quality of health care .
How has COVID-19 impacted the flu season ? The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the 2020 flu season , where decreased flu activity has been reported . This is most likely related to lockdown and additional hygiene measures .
Should you still have a flu vaccine in 2021 ? Dr Mkhatshwa recommends you do . Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of influenza , hospitalisation and death . Not only will flu vaccinations reduce the risk of getting flu but is an important conservation measure for scarce health care resources . This remains a concern with the ongoing the COVID-19 pandemic .
The flu vaccine should be given sufficiently early to provide protection for the coming winter . A protective antibody response takes about 2 weeks to develop . As there is limited evidence on the safety and effectiveness of receiving these vaccines simultaneously , Dr Mkhatshwa recommends waiting at least 14 days between having the COVID-19 and flu vaccinations .
How are COVID-19 and flu viruses similar ? The World Health Organization ( WHO ) says , ‘ Firstly , COVID-19 and influenza viruses have a similar disease presentation . That is , they both cause respiratory disease , which presents as a wide range of illness from asymptomatic or mild , through to severe disease and death .
‘ Secondly , both viruses are transmitted by contact , droplets and any material that can carry infection . As a result , the same public health measures , such as hand hygiene and good respiratory etiquette ( coughing into your elbow or into a tissue and immediately disposing of the tissue ), are important actions we can all take to prevent infection .’
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Bonitas Member Magazine Issue 2 | 2021