The season of influenza and SARS is approaching, and the level of anxiety in society is growing. This year it will not be the same as before: we will have to face two infections at once with a high risk of serious complications, including deaths.
Therefore, right now you need to take care of your health and safety. And this applies to absolutely everyone: both children and adults; both young and old; both healthy and sick.
What blow will be inflicted on the body if it collides with the flu virus and the new coronavirus at the same time? What to do to protect yourself and loved ones as much as possible from tragic outcomes? Lyudmila Nikolaevna BOLSHAKOVA, Deputy Chief Physician for Epidemiological Issues of the Center for Medical Prevention of the Moscow Health Department, told MK about this.
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– Lyudmila Nikolaevna, is it possible to be infected with several respiratory viruses at once, including influenza and SARS CoV2?
– Perhaps, of course. There are more than 200 types of viruses that cause ARVI – this group includes coronaviruses, influenza viruses, adenoviruses, and parainfluenza, and many others. Several viruses can be infected.
Before the advent of a new type of coronavirus, the most insidious of all ARVIs was the influenza virus, which causes a disease that is dangerous not so much in its course as in its consequences. Many ARVIs are difficult: with high fever, cough, runny nose. But, as a rule, without complications. However, the flu is dangerous precisely because of the complications – and not only from the respiratory system, but also from the nervous, cardiovascular, excretory, endocrine systems. First of all, young children, the elderly, especially those with chronic diseases, are at risk of serious complications. Influenza opens the gate for the bacterial flora, which is fraught with the development of pneumonia, sinusitis, encephalitis, meningitis.
If we talk about the new coronavirus infection, then it is just as dangerous with complications, which, as the current pandemic has shown, can occur not only in older people, but also in healthy young people. In this case, the respiratory, cardiovascular systems are also affected. And if a person develops a co-infection, this aggravates the severity of the course of the disease, which significantly increases the risk of death. And while the mass vaccination against the new coronavirus infection has not yet begun, it is imperative to be vaccinated against influenza – precisely in order to avoid co-infection, which means serious health consequences.
– It is believed that there is not so much flu among other ARVIs in the season: it takes literally a few percent in the total structure of other respiratory viruses. Does this mean that they are infrequently infected with it?
– Given that the virus is transmitted by airborne droplets, it is very easy to get the flu! But the annual mass vaccination of the population against this infection makes it possible to create collective immunity, which has a restraining effect on the increase in the incidence of influenza and the risk of an epidemic.
– Many people refuse to be vaccinated, because they say: here I was vaccinated last time and a week later I fell ill with the flu – the vaccine did not help …
– A person who has been vaccinated against the flu can get ARVI caused by viruses, against which there is no specific prevention. Vaccinations must be carried out before the onset of the rise in incidence, because it takes at least 2-3 weeks to develop immunity. And if you manage to get vaccinated before the rise in the incidence of influenza and SARS, the risk of infection will be much less. Therefore, the Moscow government this year began mass vaccinations in September, while the incidence of influenza has not yet increased.
– Why is the course of combined infections dangerous?
– If a person has a mixed infection, then his prognosis is much worse. By themselves, both the coronavirus and the flu have dire consequences. And if a person becomes infected with two dangerous viruses, the risk of the disease in a severe form and with complications is extremely high. Both viruses open the door for pneumococcal infection: in those who are sick, up to 60% of pneumonia are caused by pneumococci. Therefore, people with chronic diseases need to get vaccinated against pneumococcal infection at the same time as vaccination against influenza.
– How much flu vaccine coverage needs to be achieved to build up herd immunity against influenza?
– Mass immunization is aimed at the formation of herd immunity, and the task is to vaccinate at least 60% of citizens this year. With this coverage, the risk of spreading the infection is reduced. If a sick person gets into a team with a high vaccination coverage, there will be no one to transmit the infection: around people protected from infection, this is collective immunity.
Previously, we vaccinated only up to 25% of city residents – the incidence was much higher. But in recent years, thanks to mass vaccinations, there have been no flu epidemics in Moscow. Last year, we achieved over 60% vaccination coverage, and influenza rates in Moscow were low. During the period of coronavirus infection, it is especially important to ensure high coverage of the population with preventive flu vaccinations.
– Who should be afraid in the first place or is it relevant for everyone?
– During a pandemic, everyone should protect themselves against influenza. But first of all, those who have a lot of contact with the population (representatives of decreed professions (trade workers, teachers, doctors, public utilities workers, trade workers, catering workers), as well as citizens who have a risk of serious consequences after a disease (people over 60 years, children, people with chronic diseases) Risk groups should be covered by preventive vaccinations at least 75%.
– How safe are modern flu vaccines?
– The production of vaccines has been established in Russia for a long time. Modern vaccines contain only particles of an inactivated virus that can never cause disease. And even if the person is already infected, vaccination will not do any harm. Therefore, vaccination is permissible even during an increase in the incidence. However, immunity may not have time to develop before meeting the virus.
– Which vaccines are better – ours or imported ones?
– Domestic vaccines are not inferior in quality to imported ones. All vaccines are inactivated, have low reactogenicity and produce good protective immunity. The vaccines that are used to vaccinate the population contain strains of influenza that are relevant this season.
– Will the flu vaccine save the coronavirus, can it ease its course?
– Of course, it will not protect against coronavirus. But by getting a flu shot, you won’t get co-infections, which can worsen the severity of your illness.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
MHD deputy Larisa Kartavtseva: “Flu and COVID have one target – the lungs”
The coronavirus infection that Moscow faced in 2020 and the well-known influenza and SARS, unfortunately, are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, experts believe that the simultaneous infection with influenza and coronavirus with a significant degree of probability can lead to death. Influenza vaccination is a real and affordable way to protect oneself, Moscow City Duma deputy, chairman of the Commission on Health and Public Health Larisa KARTAVTSEVA reminds Muscovites.
“In the case of a so-called co-infection, it will be much more difficult for doctors to cope with the disease,” explains Kartavtseva. – The most vulnerable are the elderly, those with chronic diseases, as well as people weakened by previous illnesses. They are at high risk of contracting both the flu and the coronavirus, so they should be among the first to get vaccinated.
Kartavtseva recalled that in 2020, experts from the World Health Organization warn of the activity of at least three new strains of the influenza virus. The modern vaccine protects against them.
– Analysis of the incidence statistics in many countries shows that about 20 percent of people with coronavirus at the same time were sick with the flu. The mortality rate among these patients is much higher. The fact is that coronavirus and flu strike primarily the lungs, added Kartavtseva.
According to her, the main cause of death from influenza is pneumonia, the most common complication. In addition, both the flu and the coronavirus provoke complications of chronic cardiovascular diseases, which can also be fatal.
– I know that many people consider influenza a familiar, understandable and not at all a terrible disease. However, this year it is worth remembering: the flu also knows how to kill, warns Kartavtseva. – And if the coronavirus vaccine is not yet available to everyone, then absolutely all Muscovites can get a flu shot, and for free. This is a simple opportunity to protect yourself, and you must take advantage of it.
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