In a year dominated by coronavirus news , many unwellness have fallen by the wayside both in their priority for treatment and occupation of our thoughts . Experts are now warning countries in the northerly Hemisphere that the coming wintertime could bring a new wave of Covid cases , which could well be exacerbate by the takings of an old friend : seasonal flu .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) reports that while the harshness of symptoms variegate from person to somebody , grippe still stage a significant public wellness vexation in the United States each year . Their appraisal meditate the fact that the flu has lead to between12,000 and 61,000 deathsannually since 2010 . While less of an prompt concern compared to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic , expert warn that contracting both diseases at the same clock time could importantly increase a patient ’s hazard of mortality rate .
A report , published in theBritish Medical Journal , hint that conscientious objector - infection with influenza and Covid-19 increase the rigourousness of the disease and almost double a affected role ’s peril of death . A quote from Jonathan Van - Tam , England ’s deputy principal medical officer , taken from a Public Health England medium briefing reads : “ There is now some emerging grounds which clearly suggests that coinfection with influenza and Covid-19 acquire bad issue . One of these diseases is presently vaccinum preventable , and that ’s the really important distributor point . ”
Worryingly , a sight release by theUniversity of Michigan and C.S Mott Children ’s Hospitalhas find that some parents are considering skipping their child ’s grippe vaccinum this class in light of the pandemic .
" We may see blossom of flu and Covid-19 at the same time , which could overwhelm the health care system , strain examination capacity and potentially reduce our power to catch and treat both respiratory illnesses effectively , " order Mott Poll co - theater director Sarah Clark in astatement . " Our report find that even during the pandemic , some parent do n’t see the flu vaccine as more pressing or necessary . This heightens concerns about how the onset of flu season may heighten challenge in negociate Covid-19 . "
The Mott Poll account include 1,992 responses from parent of children aged 2 to 18 years who were survey in August , taken from a sampling reported to be nationally representative . Of the response , Covid-19 was n’t the only reason some families were planning to forgo their child ’s vaccination this year , with other mutual explanations include concerns about side effects or beliefs that it is n’t necessary or effectual .
" A key challenge for public wellness functionary is how to pass on parent who do not routinely seek seasonal flu vaccination for their child , " said Clark . " There is a lot of misinformation about the grippe vaccine , but it is the best defence for children against serious health consequences of influenza and the risk of spread it to others .
" Children should get the flu vaccinum not only to protect themselves but to foreclose the spread of grippe to family members and those who are at higher danger of serious complications . ”
