The flu was never the same as it is this year because now it has penetration in the form of COVID-19. It is getting more important than ever because now it has links with the deadly virus. It is difficult to differentiate the symptoms of common flu and COVID-19. So every patient of the seasonal flu is also taken in custody of the hospital just to check whether it is a common flu or the signs of corona-virus. For this purpose, the vaccination of the flu is very important this year and it will not tackle coronavirus but at least it has some significance. Like the vaccination of flu can reduce the risk of death, hospitalization, and illness. It will also differentiate patients of normal flu between those who are suffering from the coronavirus and who have simple flu symptoms. Vaccination will at least remove the confusion whenever marking patients on the basis of a pandemic.
There are many reasons why every person should be vaccinated against seasonal or normal flu. First of all, the number of cases reported each year who suffer from or associated with the illness of influenza can be reduced. Only in 2018-19, the vaccination of flu prevented 35,000 deaths associated with influenza, 58,000 cases from hospitalization, 2.3 million medical visits, and 4.4 million cases of influenza illness. During the flu season, the use of flu shots prevented 40 to 60% of cases from reaching a doctor.
The vaccination against flu is very important for older adults, working adults, and children. In only 2 years (2010-12), the use of flu shots decreased the influenza intense cases in children prevented 74% of admission in hospitals. In the last few years, a 40% reduction has been reported associated with older adults who suffered from influenza. From 2012-2015, 82% of adult influenza cases were reduced and according to the latest figures, the flu shots reduced 41% emergency visits.
Flu shots are also helpful in getting rid of chronic health situations. Through vaccination, the risks of cardiac events are lower than last year. Cardiac patients getting relief through these shots. Chronic lung disease can also be prevented by the flu vaccination especially the patients with COPD. Patients with lung disease and diabetes who were hospitalized are now lower.
Vaccination of flu also reduced respiratory complications among women who were pregnant by one-half. 40% of pregnant women who suffered from flu were reduced from hospitalization in six years (2010-16). Flu shots also protected babies in their early days after parturition when mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy. Flu used to be the main reason for children’s increased death rate but now this ratio has been reduced to a great extent where vaccination is available. Everyone needs to focus on vaccination of flu as well along with vaccination against the pandemic. Coronavirus will be removed forever after vaccine arrival but flu is very common and it is killing people steadily so it should have a vaccination as well.
