NHS flu vaccine found to offer protection against COVID-19

[bumblingbovine49]

Two studies carried out in Italy and Brazil, involving more than 100,000 people, found the vaccine reduced the number of coronavirus-related hospital admissions.

and

The researchers behind the findings, at Milan University in Italy and Sao Paulo University in Brazil, said the evidence was so compelling that all governments should pursue flu vaccine campaigns as one of the best ways to protect populations against coronavirus.

Another reason to get a flu vaccine if you can. I appreciate this government has fucked that up too as there seems to be some shortages but if you are offered it, this is another reason to take up the offer

Interesting, thanks OP

That is brilliant if that’s proven to be true. Many vulnerable already get the flu injection!

That is interesting!

It would be great if both flu and covid admissions fell due to this.

That’s good news

These are population based studies which are the lowest grade scientific data you can get. It could well just be the case that people who take the flu jab if they're eligible are more likely to take care of their health in others ways such as exercising, eating real food, not smoking, limiting alcohol, seeking medical attention early and taking precautions against covid such as mask wearing and social distancing.

it maybe that if someone gets flu & covid at same time you are far more ill - it has been mentioned as a reason for having flu jab

I'm getting one tomorrow, partly for this reason

The title of your post (taken from the article) is wildly misleading. More accurately: there is a correlation between having a flu vaccine and not being as vulnerable to severe covid 19.

I doubt this is the same flu vaccine we are using- there are hundreds of flu viruses and the ones affecting the UK this winter coming are almost certainly a somewhat different combo from the ones affecting Italy last winter. This is the Italian article. It's conclusions are complicated by the fact that the Italian outbreak was highly localised at first, in the region with less flu vaccine uptake. Still it's findings are suggestive.

www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/8/3/535/pdf

I would bet a very large amount of money that the flu vaccine has no effect on Covid immunity. It's theoretically possible if one of the flus in both of those vaccines is a coronavirus but so far all the research is saying not.

It's almost certainly a combination of factors; a big one is probably that having your body ravaged by flu leaves you more vulnerable to a subsequent illness.

Not really surprising data, this is why they push the annual flu vaccine so hard, but still welcome news.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/22/flu-and-covid-19-at-same-time-significantly-increases-risk-of-death
a quick search & not only this article but several others including the NHS & the national geographic & the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission/corps/whatever)

let me think...

In march and april, most deaths occurred in care homes stuffed with old people.

old people in care homes are those most likely to get flu jabs.

Nope.

Doesn't match.

The flu jab is already in short supply.

I just managed to get mine today.

Extremely vulnerable

The flu jab doesnt last a year, on average about 5 or 6 months....

@PigletJohn

Slightly more nuanced take on this here:
www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-flu-shot-might-reduce-coronavirus-infections-early-research-suggests/