Does Influenza Vaccination Reduce the Risk of Contracting COVID-19?
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Date
2022
Authors
Alòs, Francesc
Cánovas Zaldúa, Yoseba
Feijóo Rodríguez, María Victoria
Del Val Garcia, Jose Luis
Sánchez-Callejas, Andrea
Colomer, M. Àngels (Maria Àngels)
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Abstract
The concurrent timing of the COVID-19 pandemic and the seasonal occurrence of influenza,
makes it especially important to analyze the possible effect of the influenza vaccine on the risk
of contracting COVID-19, or in reducing the complications caused by both diseases, especially in
vulnerable populations. There is very little scientific information on the possible protective role of
the influenza vaccine against the risk of contracting COVID-19, particularly in groups at high-risk of
influenza complications. Reducing the risk of contracting COVID-19 in high-risk patients (those with
a higher risk of infection, complications, and death) is essential to improve public well-being and
to reduce hospital pressure and the collapse of primary health centers. Apart from overlapping in
time, COVID-19 and flu share common aspects of transmission, so that measures to protect against
flu might be effective in reducing the risk of contracting COVID-19. In this study, we conclude that
the risk of contracting COVID-19 is reduced if patients are vaccinated against flu, but the reduction is
small (0.22%) and therefore not clinically important. When this reduction is analysed based on the
risk factor suffered by the patient, statistically significant differences have been obtained for patients
with cardiovascular problems, diabetics, chronic lung and chronic kidney disease; in all four cases
the reduction in the risk of contagion does not reach 1%. It is worth highlighting the behaviour that is
completely different from the rest of the data for institutionalized patients. The data for these patients
does not suggest a reduction in the risk of contagion for patients vaccinated against the flu, but rather
the opposite, a significant increase of 6%. Socioeconomic conditions, as measured by the MEDEA
deprivation index, explain increases in the risk of contracting COVID-19, and awareness campaigns
should be increased to boost vaccination programs.
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Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2022, vol. 11, art. 5297.