Get the flu shot – Dr advices

An Influenza vaccine is necessary during the winter season, especially now in the presence of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A doctor at Premium Medical Center, Dr Kelly Champane says as winter approaches, it is critical for people to get the Influenza shot to reduce risks of accumulating more viruses.

There are over a thousand types of different viruses around the world and some are more dangerous than others and Influenza falls under these most dangerous viruses. At least four influenza pandemics have been recorded in the last century, resulting in the medical world developing a vaccine for influenza, according to Dr Champane. She notes that the Influenza vaccine is normally given around winter season, as it lasts for about six months in the body. It contains about four strains of Influenza which include; two types of Influenza A, and two types of Influenza B. “This protects our bodies by building immunity for influenza but not immunity for the other types of viruses, which is why some people can still get a common cold, while vaccinated for Influenza,” she says. She also adds that very often people are confused and believe that they cannot get common colds if they have had an Influenza shot. “Influenza shot protects one against influenza but not common colds,” she clarified. She adds that it is very critical especially this year for people to take the Influenza shot to stand a better chance to fight off Covid-19 in the event that they get infected. “We encourage everyone to get the Influenza shot mainly because we found out that if one’s body was to get attacked by both Influenza and the Corona virus, it would mean that their bodies would be subjected to immense pressure of fighting off both viruses at the same time.” Dr Champane further added that if people get at least immunity against Influenza, then in the event of a Covid-19 infection, their bodies can just focus on fighting off the Corona virus, something that could help them stand a better chances of survival. “This shot is important this season because influenza plus corona virus puts one at an extremely compromised immunity,” she reiterates. According to Champane, some of the virus strains may be detected by, cold, headache, sore throat, sore ears and runny nose. She explains that a lot of the symptoms are mild and the immune system is able to fight them within a few days, unlike Influenza. A common cold normally lasts for about three to five days and one gets back to their normal self, so getting an Influenza vaccine does not mean that one cannot get a common cold, she highlights. Anyone aged six months and above can get the Influenza vaccine, according to Dr Champane.