7 considerations for a good decision
The flu shot invitation is upon us again. Are we going to get the flu shot or not? Never before has this question been so difficult to answer. What is certain is that we will be less resistant to the flu this year and that the flu vaccine has less chance of being hit. Prick or not – at least it helps to stick to the corona rules a little longer.
1. The flu is dangerous for the elderly and people in fragile health
The flu and corona are different viruses, but they have one thing in common: people in fragile health are most at risk of serious illness and death. ‘So think twice before visiting vulnerable groups with a serious cold, such as the elderly, people with dementia or the seriously ill.’, says Mariska Petrignani, infectious disease control doctor at GGD Haaglanden to Nu.nl. ‘They do get a flu shot, but they don’t always build up good antibodies.’
2. Last year (2020) the flu outbreak was mild
Last year, experts feared a ‘twindemic’ or flu pandemic in addition to the COVID-19 wave in the fall. That worked out in hindsight. In fact, the flu was particularly mild in 2020. A relief, because the hospitals had their hands full with the COVID epidemic. In fact, an analysis in the JAMA showed that the flu had never been this mild before. There were hardly any flu deaths worldwide in 2020. Also the RIVM report that very few people got the flu in the Netherlands last year.
3. Masks, washing hands, keeping your distance and staying home helped
The measures against the corona outbreak also help prevent the spread of the flu: wear masks, wash hands and keep your distance. And above all: stay at home if you have complaints and do not travel. That probably contributed to the low spread of the flu in 2020, experts in the JAMA suspect.
4. The corona measures are now being scaled down
The corona measures have therefore protected us against the flu, but that will change. The cabinet is working on an exit strategy from the corona measures. For example, we may come closer together again if we have been tested or vaccinated for corona. But that test does not apply to the flu virus. Vaccination can therefore help to prevent flu infection.
5. We don’t know how serious the flu outbreak will be this year
The year 2019 had been a heavy flu year, 2020 was mild. After a mild season comes another tough season and vice versa. Or not. There is no level to be raised, experts say. “My crystal ball is very blurry. We are facing a very uncertain winter. It can really go either way,’ says Adam Meijer, virologist at RIVM, told Het Parool.
6. We are less protected against the flu this year
After the mild season of 2020, fewer people have come into contact with the flu virus. Normally 10 to 30 percent of the world’s population encounters the annual flu virus. So you build up your defenses. This year there was so little flu virus in contact that few people have built up an immune system. Group immunity against the flu virus is declining. Experts therefore advise that it is extra important to get the vaccine. Hospitals in the Netherlands also indicated that they expect a bigger flu wave, now that more people are susceptible.
7. We don’t know how well the flu vaccine will work
The flu virus wears a new ‘winter coat’ every winter, we don’t know which one in advance. It is therefore difficult to recognize by our immune system. The flu shot now has four types of ‘coats’ in the mix, making it more likely that it will hit and the protection will go well. But the flu vaccines are not as good as the corona vaccines, which protect more than 90 percent. They protect an average of 60 percent, according to US figures. The problem this time around is that the flu season was so mild that there were few flu viruses that the vaccine makers could work with. They started production about 5 months ago and have had to gamble more than in previous years. The flu virus may wear a completely new coat this year, and the vaccines protect less well.
