Flu shot linked to less severe COVID-19: Study

[LetMyPeopleVote]

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People who got a flu shot earlier this year may be less likely to suffer a severe COVID-19 infection down the road, according to new research.

The study, published in the journal Plos One on Wednesday, analyzed the electronic medical records of more than 74,700 people from the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Israel and Singapore, who tested positive for COVID-19. Researchers found that those who had gotten the flu vaccine during the previous six months were less likely to have had health complications related to their COVID-19 infection.

Specifically, researchers found that those who didn't get flu shots were up to 20% more likely to be admitted to the ICU; up to 58% more likely to visit the emergency room; up to 45% more likely to develop sepsis; up to 58% more likely to have a stroke; and 40% more likely to develop deep vein thrombosis, compared with those vaccinated against the flu.

Researchers didn't find any connection between receiving a flu shot and being less likely to die from COVID-19.

[Brother Mythos]

1. I've never been anti-vax, but I have avoided getting normal flu shots for several years ...

because my typical reaction to the shots is almost as bad as the flu.

This year, however, I'm going to suck it up, take my chances on possible side effects, and just get the shot.

[Hoyt]

2. Think authors need to check the results, these two sentences contradict.

“Researchers found that those who had gotten the flu vaccine during the previous six months were less likely to have had health complications related to their COVID-19 infection.”

“Researchers didn't find any connection between receiving a flu shot and being less likely to die from COVID-19.”

What am I missing? How can one be less likely to develop complications from CV19 after a flu shot, but not less likely to die?

In any event, I always get flu shots and I’ll take my annual CV19 vax when/if they tell us that will be necessary.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. Those sentences don't contradict; they illustrate one of the things we Just Don't Know about covid.

The flu shot makes it less likely you'll have complications, but it if you *do* develop complications, it doesn't mean you're less likely to die from them.

[Hoyt]

5. So less people in ICU, half the strokes, less DVT, less sepsis, etc., doesn't

translate into less deaths? Sorry, makes no sense to me.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. It can translate into fewer deaths, because there are fewer people in the ICU.

But there are still people in the ICU, even if they got the flu shot, and once they're there, their *probability* of dying is the same as if they hadn't gotten the flu shot. That is what does not change, as the article noted.

[Hoyt]

10. Then, they didn't die. So the deaths are less than otherwise w flu vax.

At best, it’s a poorly written article.

Whatever, I’m taking flu shot, CV19 Vax, wearing my mask, limiting activities, etc.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

11. You think the OP says something it doesn't.

The OP doesn't say fewer people die. You are right, fewer people will die. It simply says there's no change in the likelihood of death for those admitted to the ICU.

Say 100 people without the flu shot get covid. Some might be asymptomatic, some might "have a cold," and for the sake of easy numbers, let's say 50 of those 100 needs to go to the ICU. Let's say the likelihood of dying if you go into the ICU with covid is 1 in 3. So 17 of those 100 will die.

Now let's say those 100 do have the flu shot and then get covid. Out of those 100, only 10 end up in the ICU. This article says the likelihood of dying after ICU admittance with covid hasn't changed, so those 10 still have a 1 in 3 chance of dying, so we can assume 3 will die.

Nowhere in the OP does it say we can't expect fewer deaths. It only says the chance of dying hasn't changed. The flu shot seems to help keep you out of the ICU. But once you're in the ICU, you've got just a good a chance of getting out as the people who didn't get flu shots.

Maybe you're conflating the chance of the original 100 dying with the rate of death from those admitted in the ICU. The original 100, before they're admitted to the ICU, have a different chance of dying than those after admission.

[Mr.Bill]

4. The main problem is the time to get a flu shot

was not in the last six months. September/October is the usual time.

[Blue_true]

6. That is when I got mine. nt

[dutch777]

8. Not just for Covid, but I have been donating blood as often as possible to stimulate stem cells

There has been a theory that when you donate blood, your bone marrow revs up to replace it and in doing so, some amount of excess stem cells are sent floating along with the new blood. Hard to know what those little buggers are up to but I like to think something good. For most people it can't hurt and at least in our area there is almost always a chronic blood shortage and calls for donors.

[IcyPeas]

9. Wonder why this is just a theory...

Sounds like this is something that could be confirmed doesn't it?

I've been lax at donating. When I was working there would be blood drives where I would always donate. Made it so convenient.

[Ms. Toad]

12. This was my immediate suspicion.

While it's possible that the flu shot boosts immunity, it's also possible that people who opt to get the flu shot tend to be healthier overall than people who skip it, meaning they're already at lower risk for COVID-19 complications.

I'm glad the article mentioned it.

[Wounded Bear]

13. I always get the flu shot. Will get the covid booster if offered...

the VA pays for it for me, so no excuses.