October is the best time for flu vaccines, and the US and Europe are bracing for what experts hope will be a loud call as countries seek a “twindemic” with COVID-19.
“There is a great fear as we enter the autumn and winter months and the flu season that we will have this dreaded overlap” of influenza and coronavirus,” Dr Anthony Fauci of the US National Institutes of Health said Thursday. America this week.
A record number of doses of the flu vaccine are on the way, between 194 million and 198 million in the United States alone, many contemplating that just under a portion of adults were vaccinated last year and that leftovers regularly remain.
However, there is no way to know how many will seek to be vaccinated this year and others find temporarily depleted pharmacies or clinics.
Be patient: the flu vaccine is being sent gradually, so far less than one part has been distributed, and the CDC and brands say there are more in transit.
“This year, I think everyone should get vaccinated and want it faster than usual,” Dr. Daniel Jernigan of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told The Associated Press. “If you can’t get vaccinated now, don’t get frustrated” but keep trying.
Pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur, which produces around 250 million doses worldwide, totaling 80 million for the United States, says it has staggered shipments through November.
Vaccine manufacturer Seqirus is exploring the option to take flight “a limited number of additional doses” to meet peak demand, spokeswoman Polina Miklush said.
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Preparing for the flu vaccine takes time. Once production is complete for the year, countries can no longer ask for more, which is a stressful balancing exercise, as they guess how many people will roll up their way.
Germany usually buys 18 to 19 million doses, and this year it has ordered more. As German Health Minister Jens Spahn put it: “If we can get a flu vaccination rate so high that the 26 million doses are used together, then I would be a satisfied health minister. “
Spain has bought more doses in the hope of vaccinating many more older and pregnant adults than usual, as well as key agents from fitness centres and nursing homes.
By contrast, Poland, which had 100,000 unused doses last year, anticipated the strong call for this fall and is asking for more.
The good news: the same precautions that prevent the spread of the coronavirus (dressing in masks, avoiding crowds, washing your hands and keeping your distance) can also block the flu.
Winter has just ended in the southern hemisphere and countries such as South Africa, Australia, Argentina and Chile have not been able to diagnose influenza due to COVID-19 restrictions combined with a sharp increase in influenza vaccination.
With the coronavirus still in circulation and bloodless weather as more and businesses reopen, there is no guarantee that Northern Hemisphere countries will be so lucky with the flu.
“We don’t know how much flu; however, there will be the flu,” predicted Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
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A flu vaccine only protects against influenza, not coronavirus, and although its effectiveness varies from year to year, other people vaccinated against the flu do not get so sick, avoiding pneumonia, hospitalization and death, Schaffner said.
The CDC estimated that that year, the flu hospitalized 400,000 Americans and killed 22,000 people.
Adding influenza to the number of COVID-19 victims, which has killed more than a million people worldwide, adding more than 206,000 Americans, would put more pressure on hospitals. Influenza and coronavirus have similar symptoms and are mild, Schaffner warned of confusion like others. people are looking for evidence to determine what disease they have and whether someone they have attended deserves quarantine.
“Get the flu out of the equation this fall,” Jernigan.
Who wants the flu shot? The United States recommends it to everyone from the age of 6 months, but influenza is more harmful to others over the age of 65, young children, pregnant women, and others with certain fitness disorders, such as central illness, asthma, and even diabetes.
Most Americans can safely get a fee, and there are other types of options: normal injections, two types of strokes that aim to provide a little more coverage to the elderly, and a nasal spray.
The CDC doesn’t overtake each other. If you can’t locate your favorite type, “we ask others not to buy and wait indefinitely,” Jernigan said. “The most productive vaccine to get is the vaccine you have. “
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CDC needs states to increase influenza vaccination among blacks and Hispanics this year, who are less likely to be vaccinated than whites and are also at greater threat of COVID-19. Some states also organize flu shots and outdoor clinics to crowds.
And at the same time as being vaccinated against the flu, the elderly and others with chronic diseases also ask to be vaccinated against a type of pneumonia that is not an unusual complication, the US authorities called for.
In much of Europe, other high-risk people are a priority. France ordered 30% more flu vaccine than last year, and the first vaccines were given to other people at high risk, and vaccines will begin later this month.
In Italy, doctors and pharmacists have expressed their fear of supply, as the Ministry of Health is negotiating with vaccine manufacturers to make sure whoever needs it can get it. Italy has also lowered the threshold, from 65 to 60 years, to get the flu shot loose.
The UK Department of Health expects sufficient doses for almost part of the population, but warns that staggered births may mean that some doctors and pharmacies will not get the vaccines until later in the fall. some other groups at risk, and wonders if others qualify for a loose vaccine this year.
The World Health Organization said last week that some countries are suffering to make sure they have enough flu vaccine. WHO has encouraged all deficit-affected countries to prioritize fitness and the elderly.
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AP newscast Maria Cheng in London, Aritz Parra in Madrid, Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Frank Jordans in Berlin and Colleen Barry in Milan contributed to the report. The Associated Press Department of Health and Science is supported by the Department of Scientific Education at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The AP is for all content only.