Health experts know exactly what two viruses, influenza and COVID-19, will appear to have, circulating at the same time this fall, but this can be simply “dangerous.”
That’s why getting the flu shot this fall is “more than ever,” according to Dr. Ran Goldman, professor at ubC’s Faculty of Medicine and a pediatrician at BC Childrens’ Hospital.
“When you have a flow of viruses like COVID-19, the dangers that other people will have to bear in order not to get vaccinated are going to be greater,” he said.
“I believe that by vaccinating as opposed to the flu, we are eliminating and mitigating at least some of the Array considerations. In addition, the symptoms will be quite similar; it will be very difficult to distinguish between the two, and with that, it will be a problem of public aptitude ».
Once a user has a viral infection, their immune formula is reduced to a point where they can get other infections, Goldman said, so a user with influenza can get COVID-19, and vice versa, or contract any of the viruses at the same time. , in China’s early reports.
In addition, a viral infection can also spread the immune formula to bacterial infection, exposing others to an even greater threat of complications, adding pneumonia or blood infections.
“So having one of those viruses, to mention both, exposes you to more diseases and headaches similar to the immune system, which adds death,” Goldman said.
“That’s the danger we face. And if we have a way to mitigate one of them, like the flu … we will try, please, to do so.”
People who are already immunosuppressed, such as others with chronic diseases or the elderly, are also at increased threat of exposure to more than one virus.
The tests will also want to reach a point where the province can respond to any local outbreaks, Goldman said.
Earlier this week, Vancouver Coastal Health announced that it would extend opening hours at the Richmond and Vancouver checkpoints, where it also opened a new assessment center. The province is also working to increase capacity and rent an additional 500 touch markers during the fall.
In a recent review of nearly 3,000 families in six countries, Goldman found that more parents (54%) plan to vaccinate their young children who oppose the flu this year. This is a 16% increase over last year. But, he said, is to succeed on the other side of parents who are still at the flu vaccination barrier.
Vaccination is especially when young people return to school this fall, as there would possibly be a greater spread of influenza and COVID-19, Goldman said.
“So if we immunize young people who oppose it (the flu), we can be a threat to themselves, but also to their parents, grandparents, and the community.
Goldman also said that public fitness measures in a position opposite COVID-19 – adding school cohorts, washing hands, social estrangement and staying at home if you have symptoms – can lower the risk, “but not.”
“By that I mean that there will be local flu epidemics, and probably COVID-19, like every year.”
Goldman said he believed B.C. he was “very lucky” to flatten his previous curve this year, however, other people will still have to stick to fitness measures before the fall and the next flu season to make sure the curve stays as flat as you can imagine and that hospitals are not crowded.
The flu vaccine will be administered regularly around October, coinciding with the start of the flu season that lasts until March, possibly varying depending on the weather, the point of activity of other people and where epidemics begin, Goldman said.
And while he said it would be “interesting” to see the flu season unfold this year, some speculate that it may not be as severe given the social distance and greater handwashing, for example, Goldman said he was looking to make sure other people are. Protected.
“It’s hard to know when he’s going to hit the most, but we want to be in a position as soon as he gets to our doors.”