Epidemiologist Rastislav Maďar: The flu season will be the worst in recent years
According to estimates, what kind of flu season awaits us this year?
It is possible that this year’s flu season will be the worst in years. There are several reasons, this year, from 2020, the willingness of the population to comply with preventive measures against respiratory infections will be the lowest. In addition, for the past two years, the population has not been confronted with the influenza virus, therefore the most people are missing. In addition, a certain indicator of development in the northern hemisphere is the situation that usually occurs in the summer in the southern hemisphere, when they have their winter season here. And Australia, for example, experienced its worst flu epidemic in five years this year.
How will the presence of “covid” viruses affect the flu epidemic?
This season, we will most often see the meeting of flu and covid viruses during the entire pandemic period. I am personally concerned that a current or closely related flu infection with covid can cause a more severe course of the disease even in non-risk individuals. The situation can become significantly more complicated in the winter.
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Is it true that we should prepare for the flu after Christmas?
Influenza viruses are very likely to arrive at the usual time. Occasionally, flu viruses will appear in the population before Christmas, but the main onslaught usually occurs after Christmas. The share of flu infections in the total number of respiratory tract infections will increase after the new year, the flu epidemic usually peaks in January or February.
Prevention? Vaccination
And how should we prepare for it?
The surest prevention is vaccination, he himself is vaccinated against the flu every year. At the same time, respiratory protection is important where a person cannot keep a distance from strangers, especially from people with symptoms of a respiratory infection.
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How interested are people in the Czech Republic in flu vaccination?
The greatest interest in flu vaccines was in 2020, when vaccination against Covid-19 was not yet available. In the year the interest will have decreased and this year it will probably be even lower. People are already tired of several repeated doses. However, making a bad decision and underestimating the situation can cost you your life.
For children without a needle
There should be a new, needle-free flu vaccine for children. Will it hit?
For some parents, the possibility of applying the vaccine without an injection will be an important factor. However, its price will also decide, and it has not yet been determined. However, overall, few children are vaccinated against the flu because parents are not sufficiently aware of the risks of flu in their offspring. And needleless application won’t solve that. It would need to be complemented by a suitable information campaign. Influenza can cause long-term consequences even for children who are not at risk, not to mention occasional deaths.
What will it look like with a combination of flu and covid vaccinations?
At the beginning of autumn, it will be important that his protection is mainly against covid, the flu vaccine can also be applied later, for example at the end of October or in November. The simultaneous administration of both vaccines is not excluded, but there is not so much practical experience. If possible, we usually separate vaccines by at least two weeks. In future years, I expect one common combined vaccine against both diseases in one injection before the beginning of the risk season. That’s how it has to be in clinical studies first.
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What is your personal recipe for avoiding respiratory illnesses as much as possible?
Respiratory infections are not just flu and covid. So, in addition to the vaccine for these diseases, I also recommend vaccination against meningococci in younger individuals, against pneumococci in the elderly or against whooping cough. In addition to vaccination, the basic protection against infection is sufficient distance from other people, and if this is not possible, then the use of a respirator.