They called on everyone to get vaccinated to prevent symptoms that raise suspicion about "Covid-19"

Doctors: The seasonal flu vaccine does not enhance immunity to confront Corona

The seasonal influenza vaccine is issued by the "World Health Organization" after monitoring the 3 most common viruses.

■ from the source

Doctors demanded all segments of society to take the seasonal influenza vaccine this year, exceptionally, to prevent any symptoms that may raise doubts about the possibility of infection with the emerging corona virus, as well as to reduce the potential pressure on health services, as happened with the beginning of the Corona crisis.

The doctors denied the news circulating about helping the seasonal influenza vaccine to enhance the immune confrontation towards the virus, stressing that this information is not scientific and has nothing to do with reality, calling for medical information to be received only from the competent authorities.

The professor at the Canadian University of Western "Ontario", the consultant pediatrics, infectious diseases and immunology at the Heart Medical Center in Al-Ain, Dr. Hussam al-Tatari, called on all community members to take the seasonal influenza vaccination this year so that doctors can fight on one front only, not on two fronts, pointing out Until what many people do not realize is that seasonal influenza puts a lot of pressure on the medical sector every year, as happened during the winter of 2019-2020, when it is estimated that a quarter of patients who visit hospitals are due to influenza.

Al-Tatari denied any relationship between influenza vaccination and strengthening the immune system against the Corona virus, but it may protect a person from symptoms and complications that may raise doubts to solve the possibility of his infection with the virus.

For her part, a specialist in family medicine at the Dubai Health Authority, Dr. Nada Al-Mulla, advised all segments of society, from the age of six months and more, to protect them from complications of seasonal influenza, especially since influenza infection usually drives patients every year to go to hospitals for treatment, and since the symptoms are very similar. With symptoms of the Coronavirus, everyone should be vaccinated to reduce these symptoms.

While a consultant chest disease at Al Zahra Hospital in Dubai, Dr. Sherif Fayed, said that the seasonal influenza vaccine greatly contributes to reducing the rates of colds, as well as greatly reducing the severity of its symptoms, which protects community members from falling prey to suspicion about the possibility of infection with the virus. Corona ».

He explained that the seasonal influenza vaccine is usually issued by the World Health Organization after monitoring the three most widespread and powerful viruses during the previous year, as pharmaceutical companies manufacture it to deal with the updated vaccine every year.

He mentioned that ignoring the vaccine may greatly increase the number of cases of influenza and seasonal colds, which results in exaggerated pressure on hospitals and health services, which may help cause an imbalance in the system, especially in light of the exceptional measures taken to confront the Corona virus.

For his part, a specialist in public health and community medicine, the official spokesperson for the Emirates Public Health Association, Dr. Saif Darwish, advised everyone to get the seasonal flu vaccination this year, to reduce as much as possible the incidence of infectious diseases, and to confront symptoms that cause fear and panic among patients.

He continued: "With regard to the information that some circulate about enhancing the seasonal influenza vaccine to the immune system in the face of Corona virus, this talk is not based on a scientific basis at all."

According to the World Health Organization, the similarities between the symptoms of the Corona virus and the seasonal influenza are that the symptoms of each are similar, as both cause a respiratory disease that manifests itself in widespread illnesses ranging from the absence of symptoms or mild symptoms to severe disease and even death, and both viruses are transmitted by touch and droplets. And infectious devices, and therefore the public health measures themselves, such as hand washing and respiratory hygiene, are important measures that may be sufficient to prevent infection.

Regarding the differences, the organization explained: “The speed of transmission is an important point of difference between the two viruses, as the average incubation period of the influenza virus (that is, the period from the moment of infection to the onset of symptoms) as well as the period of the serial interval (that is, the interval between successive cases) are both shorter than the Covid-19 virus. The serial interval period for Covid-19 is estimated between five or six days, while it is three days for the influenza virus, which means that influenza can spread faster than Covid-19, and the transmission of the virus is in the first three to five days of the disease. Or, perhaps, transmission in the period prior to the onset of symptoms, is a major transmission factor for influenza.

On the other hand, while we learned that there are people who can transmit the Covid-19 virus 24 to 48 hours before the onset of symptoms, it does not seem at the present time that this is a major factor in transmission.

A symposium discusses seasonal influenza during "Corona"

Yesterday, the Dubai Health Authority, in cooperation with New York University Abu Dhabi, organized a virtual seminar during which it discussed ways to deal with seasonal influenza infections during the "Covid-19" pandemic, the similarity of its symptoms to the emerging corona virus, and treatment practices and protocols while dealing with patients of different age groups.

Participants in the virtual session reviewed the symptoms and signs that appear on those with seasonal influenza, including: a sudden increase in body temperature often of more than 38 ° C, but some patients may not have a high body temperature, chills and sweating, and the presence of headache, pain in the muscles and joints, and nausea Constant dry cough, fatigue, runny nose with sore throat.

Speakers emphasized that most patients with seasonal flu would recover from fever and other symptoms within one week without requiring medical attention.

Seasonal flu vaccine reduces colds.

The seasonal flu vaccine relieves pressure on health services.

Follow our latest local and sports news, and the latest political and economic developments via Google news