Flu Season, Is Influenza Vaccination Important?

KOMPAS.com – Towards the end of the year when the weather tends to be cooler, usually we will also catch a lot of people with flu. During this pandemic, we also need to be prepared to face an increase in Covid-19 cases.

Flu season What happens in 2020-2021 will largely depend on how closely we keep our distance, avoid indoor gatherings, wear face masks, and wash our hands.

In an online broadcast of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), epidemiologist Dr. Anthony Fauci suggested giving the flu vaccine as a way to protect yourself from catching flu during a pandemic.

On the territory of Australia and New Zealand, flu season lasts from April to the end of August. They have gone through flu season and the number of recorded cases is low.

In addition, the United States also experienced low flu transmission rates this summer. So does that mean our flu season might be mild too?

Medical Director of NFID, Dr. William Schaffner said that the mild flu season in Australia and New Zealand was due to levels vaccination height and adherence to safety precautions such as physical distancing.

In the United States it may be less restrictive, especially as several states reopen restaurants, schools, colleges, and bars.

“Our population is divided into two groups: people who are very cautious and people who are careless. As a result, we really don’t know exactly what will happen this flu season,” said Schaffner.

For this reason, health experts strongly recommend the importance of people getting influenza vaccination this year.

Every person aged 6 months and over whose body is fairly strong must get flu shot. October is a golden month to get vaccinated because flu season usually starts in November and peaks in late January or early February.

In Australia, H1N1 (Influenza Virus) is the main strain. The benefits of this vaccine make people less susceptible to flu. Even though there is a tendency to get sick, the disease will not be too severe, and it will relieve various complications.

“Even if we are sick, the flu shot can reduce the severity and duration of illness. Most importantly, it can help us get out of the hospital faster, ”said Fauci.

According to Fauci, the flu typically causes between 12,000 and 61,000 deaths, 140,000 to 810,000 severe cases requiring hospitalization, and between 9.3 to 45 million deaths a year.

Last year, 52 percent of people 6 months or older got vaccinated. The CDC estimates the flu vaccine prevents 7.5 million illnesses, 3.7 million medical visits, 105,000 flu hospitalizations, and 6,300 deaths.
By getting the flu shot now, thousands of hospitalizations and deaths can be prevented.

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