A study published Feb. 22 in the American Journal of Infection Control used data from more than 27,000 people tested for COVID between Feb. 27 and July 15 in the Michigan Medicine healthcare system. Out of that group, researchers reported that only 47.8 percent had gotten the flu vaccine in the last year (between Aug. 1 and July 15), while 52 percent had not. Gathering the number of positive cases from the two groups, researchers found that the odds of testing positive for COVID were reduced by 24 percent for patients who had been vaccinated against the flu compared to those who hadn’t been. And for more things that could be protecting you, If You Have This in Your Blood, You May Be Safe From Severe COVID.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb If you end up contracting the virus, the researchers also found that those who had gotten the flu vaccine were less likely to be hospitalized for COVID. Compared to those who didn’t get the flu vaccine, the odds of a flu-vaccinated COVID patient requiring hospitalization were reduced by 42 percent. According to the study, if hospitalized, you are also less likely to need mechanical ventilation and more likely to have a shorter stay if you have gotten the flu vaccine. The researchers concluded that “influenza vaccination is associated with decreased positive COVID-19 testing and improved clinical outcomes.” And for more news on severe coronavirus, If You’ve Had This Common Illness, You’re More Likely to Die From COVID. Only 13.4 percent of Americans have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine so far, according to data from NPR. In the meantime, many people are still vulnerable to severe illness from COVID while vaccine availability estimates for the general population get pushed further back. That’s why the researchers say the flu vaccine should be encouraged for those not yet eligible for the COVID vaccine, as it not only appears to lessen the likelihood of getting the virus but also the the likelihood of severe COVID. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 48.4 percent of adults 18 years and older got the flu shot during the 2019 to 2020 season, emphasizing the need for further promotion and coverage. “Until the COVID-19 vaccine becomes widely available, the influenza vaccine should be promoted to reduce the burden of disease during this pandemic,” the researchers stated in their study. And for more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. If you’re about to get your coronavirus vaccine, don’t go running to get a flu shot for extra protection. According to the CDC, you shouldn’t get another vaccine within two weeks of your COVID vaccine, and that includes the flu vaccine. The agency says a “lack of data on the safety and efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines administered simultaneously with other vaccines” is the reason they have put this guidance in place. You need to wait at least 14 days after either vaccine to get the other. And for more vaccine guidance, The CDC Is Warning You Not to Do This Right Before You Get Vaccinated.
