Experts: Flu vaccination programme can help relieve Covid-19 stress on hospitals

 

Medical experts have called for the implementation of a widespread influenza (flu) vaccination programme during the Covid-19 crisis.

In a statement today, doctors as part of the Malaysian Influenza Working Group said healthcare workers were especially in need of the vaccination, citing a World Health Organization (WHO) advisory on the issue.

A drop in flu-related hospitalisations among the public would also help relieve stress on the healthcare system.

“Flu vaccination has become even more critical as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to rage against the globe [...]

“It will help protect (healthcare professionals) from severe flu and related complications, as well as the unthinkable prospect of getting flu and Covid-19 at the same time - a disastrous mix that may lead to a 10,000-fold increase in coronavirus replication in human cells as new research suggests.

“From a health system perspective, widespread flu vaccination will minimise the number of people getting hospitalised for flu, thereby allowing critical yet limited healthcare resources to be reserved for Covid-19 cases,” they said.

The group thus urged both healthcare professionals and the public to get vaccinated against the flu.

“This small step could help avert tremendous physical, emotional and financial suffering from severe flu and related complications,” they added.

Flu vaccines are safe

Chaired by microbiologist and UPM professor Dr Zamberi Sekawi, the working group is part of the Malaysian Society of Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy.

Among its members are UKM professor Dr Yasmin Abdul Malik and Selangor Covid-19 taskforce member Dr Christopher Lee.

In the statement, the group assured that flu vaccination was safe for all ages with minimal side effects.

It also affirmed that two flu vaccine brands - Vaxigrip Tetra and SKYCellflu Quadrivalent - have been deemed safe for use by the Health Ministry.

The ministry said on Monday (Nov 2) that the two brands had been tested and could continue to be used.

It had called for a temporary freeze on the vaccine types on Oct 28 after 88 deaths were recorded in South Korea amidst the East Asian nation’s mass flu vaccination programme.

Seventy-two of the deaths have since been linked to underlying diseases, not fatal reactions to the vaccine. The South Korean vaccination programme has resumed.

No deaths have been recorded in Malaysia following flu vaccinations, said the Health Ministry. - Mkini