Due to issues surrounding lockdowns and paranoia--the direct result of pandemic tension--the vaccination rate has reportedly dropped among adults and children, setting the stage for a potential public health crisis to dwarf the recent COVID-19 outbreak.
Avoiding a Twindemic During the Annual Cold and Flu Season
As of this moment, it does not appear that SARS-CoV-2 is going anywhere anytime soon, resulting in rising concerns regarding a peak 2021 influenza season while COVID-19 is still running rampant.
Exacerbating these concerns are the significant declines in non-influenza vaccinations in children;
Vaccine Tracking System data indicate a notable decrease in orders for VFC-funded, ACIP-recommended non-influenza childhood vaccines, and for measles-containing vaccines.
The decline began the week after the national emergency declaration; similar declines in orders for other vaccines were also observed.
VSD data show a corresponding decline in measles-containing vaccine administrations beginning the week of March 16, 2020.
The substantial reduction in VFC-funded pediatric vaccine ordering after the COVID-19 emergency declaration is consistent with changes in vaccine administration among children in the VSD population receiving care through eight large U.S. health care organizations.
Additionally, U.S. adults' claims regarding their hesitation to get vaccinated against the influenza virus are causing alarm.
According to ABC News;
Vaccine hesitation is a major public health issue in America, but vaccines are the most effective tool in combating infectious diseases.
Last year, the flu vaccine prevented 7.5 million flu illnesses, 3.7 million flu-associated medical visits, 105,000 flu hospitalizations and 6,300 flu deaths, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
Despite these statistics, a new survey, released Thursday by the NFID, reveals that only 59% of U.S. adults said they planned to get vaccinated against influenza during the 2020-2021 flu season.
Fifteen percent stated they were not sure, while 22% who are at high risk for flu-related complications (such as adults age 65 years and older, smokers, those with diabetes, asthma, heart disease or kidney disease) said they were not planning to get vaccinated.
These low numbers are alarming for public health officials, with U.S. hospitals bracing themselves for a potential surge of seriously ill influenza and COVID-19 patients.
Health officials urge Americans to get flu vaccine as concerns mount over possible 'twindemic'
Addressing Possible Causes of Vaccination Tension
Tensions regarding vaccinations are not entirely uncommon and can stem from a wide range of reasons, not all of them rational.
A recent influenza vaccination paranoia case stems from a series of social media posts regarding a 2019 Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch study, which assessed possible vaccination interference--the potential for vaccinations to increase the likelihood of acquiring other infections.
The reason for the concern comes from the studies conclusion;
Receipt of influenza vaccination was not associated with virus interference among our population.
Examining virus interference by specific respiratory viruses showed mixed results.
Vaccine derived virus interference was significantly associated with coronavirus and human metapneumovirus; however, significant protection with vaccination was associated not only with most influenza viruses, but also parainfluenza, RSV, and non-influenza virus coinfections.
However, the claims regarding influenza vaccines' potential to increase the likelihood of acquiring COVID-19 by 36% were deemed false by FactCheck.org.
According to their assessment;
A claim being pushed on social media and by an organization skeptical of vaccines is using a military study to falsely suggest that the flu vaccine increases someone’s risk of contracting COVID-19.
The study does not say that, and the Military Health System advises people to get the flu shot.
That’s wrong.
First of all, experts say there has been no study connecting the flu shot with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
In fact, the AFHSB study concluded that its “overall results … showed little to no evidence supporting the association of virus interference and influenza vaccination.”
The erroneous claim that the study shows a heightened risk for COVID-19 for those vaccinated for the flu hinges on the study’s suggestion that vaccinated individuals appeared more likely to get “coronavirus.”
But the study looked at four types of seasonal coronaviruses that cause common colds, not SARS-CoV-2.
What’s more, Belongia said, the results in the study that indicates a flu-vaccinated person has an increased likelihood of testing positive for a seasonal coronavirus do not appear to be adjusted for age groups or seasons.
Those factors could affect someone’s chances of getting a specific virus, regardless of whether or not they’ve been vaccinated for the flu.
What You Can Do
There are several steps that schools, businesses, and individuals can take to avoid a catastrophic overlap of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic with a potential influenza pandemic, including:
- Getting vaccinated early.
- Washing your hands regularly.
- Avoiding crowded public places with poor ventilation.
- Covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
- Deep cleaning regularly trafficked public facilities daily with enhanced no-touch methods.
- Disinfecting high-touch fomites several times throughout the day, and;
- Disinfecting entire facilities with an electrostatic disinfection appliance at least once per week during the course of the flu season.
References & Resources
Takeaway
Yearly influenza outbreaks are always deadly, due in part to the lack of widespread vaccination.
Overlapping a deadly influenza season with the ongoing coronavirus outbreak is a recipe for disaster--one which can be easily avoided by following basic precautions.
In addition to maintaining high levels of hand hygiene compliance and hand placement awareness, enhanced facility cleaning has been proven to significantly reduce the rate of transmission and infection among the population.
A proven and cost-effective method for ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness and safety is outsourcing daily and specialized custodial services to an experienced service provider.
If you would like more information regarding the effectiveness of high-performance infection prevention and control measures, or if you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation onsite assessment of your facility's custodial needs, contact us today for a free quote!
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