Second Covid peak expected to hit as early as June

Population health expert Dr Gary Jackson, GP and clinical lead for the Covid-19 outbreak and home isolation in Auckland Dr Christine McIntosh, and immunologist Dr Anthony Jordan said yesterday the second Covid-19 peak could hit as early as June. ‘‘Unfortunately that puts us in the same boat with the other winter viruses [such as influenza] that are coming along,’’ Jackson said. An influenza surge was already being seen in Dunedin. There were also concerns Aotearoa had an ‘‘extra susceptible population’’ because there had been basically no flu cases for two years due to closed borders, he said. In Australia, cases of influenza had ‘‘shot through the roof’’ in recent days, Jackson said. The experts were questioned about ways people could boost their immunity ahead of winter, including whether vitamins were recommended. Jordan said most people got sufficient levels of vitamins in their diet. ‘‘The vast majority of us are actually not vitamin deficient and we don’t require vitamin supplements,’’ he said. McIntosh said people needed to make sure they got sufficient levels of vitamin D during winter. People often forgot to go outside during the day in the colder months and didn’t get enough sun, she said. An easy fix was for people to go outside on their lunch break. However, ‘‘the simplest answer’’ to boosting immunity was to get vaccinated, including against flu, she said.