Covid-19: Can flu vaccine keep kids safe from third wave?

Speculation is rife that the third wave of deadly Coronavirus impacts children. However, there is no strong evidence but parents are too worried.

It is also being heard that the flu vaccine can help keep kids safe from third wave. Let’s see.

According to Dr Jesal Sheth, senior consultant-pediatrician, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) recommends giving annual flu shots to all children below five.

She said, “Recent studies conducted during the pandemic in Michigan and Missouri, among children infected with Covid-19, showed those who had been vaccinated with inactivated influenza vaccine during the flu season in 2019-20 in the US, had slightly reduced risk of catching COVID-19 infection, as well as reduced risk of suffering from severe infection.”

She explained, “SARS-CoV-2 and influenza have similar epidemiologic and clinical features. With the ongoing Covid crisis, additional influenza infection may convert the pandemic into a ‘twindemic’ situation; vaccinating children with flu shots will offer possible benefit of viral interference, preventing infection risk and bringing down infection severity in the possible third wave.”

She further added that it is important to note “the flu vaccine and Covid vaccine are different”.
“A gap of four weeks needs to be maintained between the two vaccines so that the child gets ample time for the antibodies to develop, and to build all kinds of immunity against viral interferences”, she concluded.