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Michigan Medicine researchers say they have found an association between the flu vaccine and fewer less severe coronavirus cases. The study, which examined the medical records of more than 27,000 patients, also found that none of the people included in the data tested positive for both viruses at the same time.
“It’s possible that the patients who get their flu shot are also people who practice more social distancing and follow CDC guidelines,” Marion Hofmann Bowman, MD, senior author and associate professor of internal medicine and cardiologist at Michigan Medicine Frankel Cardiovascular Center said in a press release. “However, it is also plausible that there may be a direct biological effect of the influenza vaccine on the immune system relevant to the fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.”
WHAT HAPPENED TO CORONAVIRUS, THE “TWIN-DEMIC” INFLUENZA? WEIGHTS EXPERT
Researchers found that between March and mid-July 2020, of the nearly 13,000 people who had been vaccinated against the flu the previous year, 4% tested positive for COVID-19, while nearly 5% of the 14,000 who gave up the flu shot tested positive for COVID-19. Those who received the vaccine were also “significantly” less likely to require hospitalization, according to the press release posted on Eurekalert.org .
Hofmann noted that the underlying cause of the apparent association is not yet clear.
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“Instead of a disturbing link between COVID-19 and the flu vaccine, our post gives more certainty that getting the flu shot is associated with staying out of hospital for COVID -19 “, said Hofmann.
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