Flu and Covid ‘boosts death risk by 60%’
GETTING flu at the same time as Covid-19 increases your chance of dying by 60%, research suggests.
Public Health England’s initial findings from the start of the pandemic show the death rate among hospitalised patients with both was 43% – up from 27% for those with coronavirus alone.
It issued a stark warning to half of Britons now eligible for the jab to get immunised, amid fears a devastating flu season could kills tens of thousands.
The research however did suggest that someone with flu was 68% less likely to test positive for Covid-19.
PHE’s Medical Director Professor Yvonne Doyle said: “If you get both you are in serious trouble. People still think that the flu is just like a cold. It’s not.”
The Government officially launches its annual flu vaccine programme today.
Flu clinics will be set up in car parks and large community centres.
PHE tested 19,000 hospital patients in England for both viruses between January and April and located 58 who had contracted both. Of these 25 died. It has ordered further research. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van Tam said studies on mice found “bad outcomes”.
Flu kills an average of 8,000 people annually but in a bad season it kills up to 22,000. Last year flu vaccine take-up was 43% to 45% among young children and adults in “at risk” groups. This year the aim is for 75% take-up.
Some 32 million eligible people will be contacted from today.