A leading medical doctor has said that in the era of COVID-19, many people have been overlooking a very known seasonal bug called influenza or flu, and the vaccine of it can help protect us during this cold weather.
Dr. Mohamed Ata Hendaus-Rahal, Senior Attending Physician from Sidra Medicine told The Peninsula that “the flu vaccine induces a high level of protection against the disease. This vaccine can be lifesaving in children, pregnant women and individuals with chronic diseases. Moreover, recent studies have shown that it is safe to administer the flu vaccine concomitantly with the COVID-19 vaccine.”
Dr. Mohamed Ata Hendaus-Rahal
He said that everybody above the age of six months should receive the flu vaccines, however there are few exceptions. Among these are infants under the age of six months, individuals who are allergic to any ingredients in a flu vaccine which includes antibiotics, gelatin among others should not get the vaccine, and if somebody has had severe allergic reactions to a previous flu vaccine.
A message from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) earlier said flu vaccines are readily available at health centres in the country. “When you attend your appointment for your COVID-19 booster at our health centres, you can also request to have the flu vaccine at the same appointment. Not only is it convenient, but it also ensures you are protected against the flu and COVID-19 both,” it disclosed.
Dr. Hendaus-Rahal, also the Chairman of Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee at Sidra Medicine added: “Flu vaccine can reduce the probability of hospitalisation from flu. In addition, it decreases the seriousness of the disease. And this applies to both healthy individuals and people with chronic diseases.”
He also explained that symptoms of the flu and COVID-19 can be hard to differentiate. “If an individual has received the flu vaccine, then the probability to seek medical attention to be tested for COVID-19 and flu will be lower. This can ameliorate some anxiety, economic burden and time consumption in patients and their families,” Dr. Hendaus-Rahal said.
He likewise revealed that people can have the flu and COVID-19 infection at the same time. “Viruses that cause the flu and the COVID-19 disease are different and can co-exist in the human body,” he said.
When asked if it’s safe to have both flu vaccine and COVID-19 jab at the same time, Dr. Hendaus-Rahal said, “Recent studies have shown that it is safe to receive both vaccines at the same time.” In a video posted on social media by the MoPH, Dr. Zienab Shehata, PHCC Family Medicine Specialist, Public Health Coordinator, said: “There is no evidence to show that getting both the flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time produces additional or extra side effects.”
