The coronavirus vaccine is being distributed in the United States, but many Americans have found that it is not so easy to get an appointment to get the vaccine. And many people are still not eligible to receive the vaccine, as most states have prioritized vaccination appointments for healthcare professionals, people over 65 and people with underlying diseases. However, new research has found that an earlier vaccine may already be protecting you from COVID. Read on to find out if you are up to date on this important vaccination and for more information on the COVID vaccine, the CDC states that these three side effects mean your vaccine is working.
A study published on February 22 in the American Journal of Infection Control used data from more than 27,000 people tested for COVID between February 27 and July 15 in the Michigan Medicine healthcare system. Of that group, the researchers reported that only 47.8% received the flu vaccine last year (between August 1 and July 15), while 52% did not. Putting together the number of positive cases from the two groups, the researchers found that the chances of a positive test for COVID were reduced by 24 percent for patients who were vaccinated against the flu compared to those who were not. And for more things that could be protecting you, if you have it in your blood, you can be safe from serious COVID.
If you end up contracting the virus, the researchers also found that those who received the flu vaccine were less likely to be hospitalized for COVID. Compared with those who did not receive the flu vaccine, the chances of a flu vaccinated COVID patient needing hospitalization were reduced by 42 percent. According to the study, if you are hospitalized, you are also less likely to need mechanical ventilation and more likely to have a shorter stay if you have received the flu vaccine. The researchers concluded that “influenza vaccination is associated with a decrease in the positive COVID-19 test and better clinical results”. And for more news about the severe coronavirus, if you’ve had this common disease, 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 NPR data. In the meantime, many people are still vulnerable to serious illnesses caused by COVID, while estimates of vaccine availability for the general population are postponed. That is why the researchers say that the flu vaccine should be encouraged for those who are not yet eligible for the COVID vaccine, as it not only appears to decrease the likelihood of contracting the virus, but also the likelihood of severe COVID.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 48.4% of adults 18 years and older were vaccinated against influenza during the 2019-2020 season, emphasizing the need for additional promotion and coverage. “Until the COVID-19 vaccine becomes widely available, the flu vaccine should be promoted to reduce the disease burden during this pandemic,” said the researchers in their study. And for the most up-to-date information, subscribe to our daily newsletter.
If you are about to get the coronavirus vaccine, don’t rush out to get the flu vaccine for extra protection. According to the CDC, you should not get another vaccine within two weeks of your COVID vaccine, and that includes the flu vaccine. The agency says that “the lack of data on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines administered simultaneously with other vaccines” is the reason why they have implemented this guidance. You need to wait at least 14 days after one of the vaccines to receive the other. And for more vaccine guidance, the CDC is warning you not to do it right before you get vaccinated.