The 2018–2019 flu season within the US, for instance, resulted in about half 1,000,000 hospitalizations and greater than 34,000 deaths. And communities of shade, which have already been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19, historically have also been extra prone to have continual well being situations that put them at greater risk of influenza-associated problems.
A persons should get their flu shot each flu season to ensure the most effective protection from the flu. The flu shot is not going to eliminate the chance of getting the flu 100{a1838ce4fa7d354967ff094531ffda59a669e991a533275523fe15ef39118963} as there are a number of strains of viruses that may cause the flu. However, data suggests flu signs may be milder and issues can be reduced following vaccination. It also can protect others who are susceptible but might not have the ability to receive the vaccine for a variety of causes.
“This yr, in particular, we don’t know what to expect,” says Stacey Schultz-Cherry, an influenza researcher at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. One downside is that as a result of influenza and Covid-19 are each respiratory viruses, severe cases might be treated on a lot of the same restricted medical tools, like ventilators. And as a result of they will have overlapping signs, figuring out whether somebody has the flu or Covid-19 — or neither — might be difficult but also necessary. We’re also now staring down the annual flu season, which typically starts in October and burdens the well being care system even in normal years.
In recent weeks, nevertheless, the spotlight has shifted to the brand new coronavirus, which is sickening individuals of all ages, particularly older adults and people with underlying health points. Unlike the seasonal flu, there’s no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, at least not but.
- CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for “universal” flu vaccination within the U.S. to expand protection towards the flu to more individuals.
- Older people, young youngsters and people with certain continual circumstances (asthma, heart illness, diabetes, among others) are at increased danger for critical problems, together with pneumonia.
- The Center’s for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older by the end of October, if potential.
- The vaccine is recommended for people who are more more likely to get really sick from flu-related problems.
Factors that can decide an individual’s suitability for vaccination, or vaccination with a particular vaccine, include an individual’s age, health (current and previous) and any allergic reactions to flu vaccine or its parts. If you have questions about whether you must get a flu vaccine, seek the advice of your well being-care supplier. Anyone can get the flu (even healthy folks), and serious issues associated to the flu can happen at any age, however some persons are at excessive risk of creating severe flu-related problems in the event that they get sick. This contains folks sixty five years and older, people of any age with sure persistent medical circumstances (similar to asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant ladies, and young youngsters.
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead for Covid-19, explained that the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System is being utilized in countries for each flu and Covid-19. This system collects samples from throughout the globe from people who have flu-like or severe respiratory illnesses to test for viruses like flu. Influenza (flu) and a chilly are both respiratory (respiration) infections caused by viruses. Some of the symptoms are similar, and it could possibly typically be troublesome to tell if you have the flu or a really unhealthy chilly.
The virus that causes COVID-19 is infecting people and spreading easily from person-to-particular person. Cases have been detected in most international locations worldwide and group unfold is being detected in a rising variety of international locations. On March eleven, the COVID-19 outbreak was characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization.
CDC recommends use of the flu shot (inactivated influenza vaccine or IIV) and the recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV). The nasal spray flu vaccine (stay attenuated influenza vaccine or LAIV) should not be used throughout . Different flu vaccines are approved for use in numerous teams of people.