A study of more than 74,000 patients from around the world suggests that the flu vaccine would protect against some serious effects of Covid-19, in particular intensive care admissions, sepsis and strokes.
- People infected with SARS-CoV-2 and not vaccinated against influenza had up to 20% more risk of being admitted to intensive care.
- They also had a 58% greater risk of going to the emergency department, were 45% more likely to develop sepsis, up to 58% to suffer a stroke and 40% to develop deep vein thrombosis.
- The researchers suggest that the flu vaccine strengthens the innate immune system, which would explain its protective effect against Covid-19.
The flu vaccine provides viral protection against some severe forms of Covid-19. This is the conclusion reached by a study presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID).
A significant reduction in serious forms
While vaccinating against Covid-19 in all countries of the world is a colossal health issue, it would therefore be possible to reduce the risk of stroke, sepsis and admission to intensive care in affected patients. by SARS-CoV-2 but vaccinated against seasonal flu, shows this new study, conducted by the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami (United States).
Its authors carried out a retrospective analysis of medical data from two groups of 37,377 patients from around the world, matched according to factors likely to influence the risk of severe Covid-19: age, sex, ethnic origin. , smoking and health problems such as diabetes, obesity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Members of the first group had received the flu vaccine between two weeks and six months before being diagnosed with Covid-19. Those in the second group also had Covid-19 but had not been vaccinated against the flu.
The researchers then measured the incidence of 15 adverse effects within 120 days of testing positive for Covid-19. By comparing the results of the two groups, the researchers found that people who had not been vaccinated against the flu had up to 20% more risk of being admitted to intensive care. They were also much more likely to visit the emergency department (up to 58% more), to develop sepsis (up to 45% more), to have a stroke (up to 58% more more) and deep vein thrombosis (up to 40% more). However, the risk of death was not reduced.
An additional option to fight against Covid-19
For now, researchers know how the flu vaccine provides protection against Covid-19. But, according to most theories, it would strengthen the innate immune system, that is to say the “general” defenses that we have at birth and which are not adapted to a particular disease.
The study authors say their findings strongly suggest that the flu vaccine protects against several serious effects of Covid-19, although more research is needed to prove and better understand this link.
“This result is particularly significant as the pandemic is straining resources in many parts of the world. Therefore, our research – if validated by prospective randomized clinical trials – has the potential to reduce the global burden of disease. “says Dr Devinder Singh, lead author of the study.
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