28 Mar 2022

A flu shot this season may just be the buffer you needed to thwart an attack by COVID-19, says Dr Abel Moumakwa of MRI Botswana. 

Dr Moumakwa who was speaking in an interview Friday, said respiratory infections such as flu increased the chances of infection with COVID-19. 

Flu vaccine would therefore decrease the transmission of COVID-19 especially during the winter season.

“I would advise the public to get flu shot even though it is not mandatory like the COVID-19 vaccine,” he said. The bonus with flu vaccines is increased workplace productivity and decreased anxiety associated with COVID-19, given the difficulty in distinguishing the two during flu seasons. 

Explaining the difference between the two vaccines, Dr Moumakwa said COVID-19 vaccine was currently effective against all variants of the disease whilst the flu vaccine was effective against selected variants, hence the development of quadrivalent vaccines. “Quadrivalent meaning effective for four different flu types,” he explained. 

The side effects of flu vaccine were usually mild and lasted up to 24 hours whilst the COVID-19 vaccine could have severe side effects that mimicked the COVID-19 virus, he said. Doctors normally ask that you spend two weeks after either vaccine before you can take the other. 

“In Botswana we generally space the flu from COVID-19 vaccine by more than a week,” Said Dr Moumakwa. He advised people should ensure they exhibited no flu or COVID-19 symptoms before you taking either vaccine, he said. Supporting Dr Moumakwa, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Chief Public Relations Officer, Dr Christopher Nyanga, said there was currently no scientific evidence suggesting the influenza (flu) vaccine could interfere with COVID-19 vaccines. 

He emphasised the flu vaccine was safe, effective, and could be given alongside other routine immunisations as well as the COVID-19 vaccine. 

“It is important to highlight that both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines are quite effective at preventing serious illness or death,” he said. 

Dr Nyanga stated that individuals who could benefit from the flu vaccine were those with suboptimal immunity such as the elderly, diabetics and people living with HIV. “However, anyone who is six months and older is also eligible for a flu vaccine depending on the type of the vaccine,” he said. ends