Pharmacist Andrew Gyorda on the Importance of Getting Vaccinated
Last flu season, up to 56 million people across the country suffered an illness due to the influenza virus according to the CDC. Though that figure may be the same or higher for the forthcoming season, it will be further complicated due to COVID-19, remarks Andrew Gyorda, pharmacist and operator of Hollis Pharmacy in Hollis, New Hampshire.
The number of flu infections from the 2019–2020 flu season could have been much higher without families and individuals electing to get the flu vaccine. The CDC estimates that seasonal flu vaccinations prevented more than 4.4 million cases, as well as avoiding more than 58,000 hospital stays due to the severe complications. Although 62,000 people died as a result of the flu last season, the flu vaccine prevented countless flu-related deaths. This flu season we are faced with the added dimension of the COVID-19 virus, which has already caused the deaths of more than 200,000 persons in the U.S. as of Sept. 27th. With a second wave of the coronavirus on the horizon, the health risk is expected to be even greater. This is because it is foreseeable to contract both the flu virus and the COVID-19 virus at the same time, being referred to as a “twindemic”. While COVID-19 vaccines are all still in development, there are no present delays for distributing the influenza vaccine for the 2020–2021 flu season. Additionally , pharmacies in New Hampshire have trained staff to deliver the flu shot without appointments, and pharmacists have also been authorized to provide the COVID-19 vaccine once development is complete, shares Mr. Gyorda.
Vaccinations Protect Patients and Community
Often when deciding on whether to get a flu shot, the effectiveness of the vaccine is considered. The efficacy of the flu vaccine can change from season to season, but generally it is from 40 to 60%. The range of effectiveness also takes into consideration the age of a person and their overall health, as well as how well matched the vaccine is to the circulating viruses. Regardless, the flu vaccine has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of becoming severely ill from the virus. There are other reasons to get immunizations for preventable diseases. For example, unvaccinated children may end up needing specialized treatment that hospital staff may not be familiar with. The flu can also put pregnant women at higher risk of complications.
Failure to receive recommended vaccinations means putting others at higher risk of becoming ill, states Andrew. There are legitimate reasons why a person may not be able to be vaccinated, such as being immunocompromised by medications, disease or malnutrition. This should be discussed on a case-by-case basis with a doctor. Getting a vaccination will help stop the spread of outbreaks and pandemics. Those who medically cannot be vaccinated rely on others to get their immunizations to reduce their chance of exposure. This concept is referred to as herd immunity, which prevents diseases from easily spreading among the population. Even diseases that have been brought under control via nationwide vaccination efforts such as the measles can be spread via travel to another country that does not have the same access to the vaccine. That traveler can then infect others when they return home to the U.S. Furthermore, since pneumococcal vaccines have now been approved for children, the number of potentially dangerous cases in older adults due to related infections has dropped. Ensuring young people get vaccinated when they are of appropriate age guarantees less of many illnesses which can interrupt their education and activities. When it comes to flu vaccinations for children, a 2014 study cited by Andrew Gyorda shows it lowers the risk of ending up in a pediatric intensive care unit by 74%.
Andrew Gyorda on Helping Those with Chronic Diseases
For people with chronic health conditions including diabetes and chronic lung disease, the flu vaccine has been shown to have additional benefits, namely lowering severity and hospital visits. There is research to suggest that a flu shot can have cardioprotective qualities. Statistics show that the risk of a heart attack is six times greater within a week of being diagnosed with the flu, and that having heart disease or suffering a recent stroke can make a person more prone to serious complications due to the virus.
While the COVID-19 vaccination is in development, it is extremely important this year to get a flu shot, stresses Andrew Gyorda. Avoiding this vaccine can mean opening the door to other infections, including the coronavirus. Even a mild flu season coupled with a surge in COVID-19 related illnesses can overload the hospital system. In the cases where a patient still gets ill due to a virus, it will likely not tax their immune system as much as it would have were they unvaccinated. The proper wearing of face masks and smart social distancing should also maintained throughout the year, at the advice of experts. Getting a flu shot as soon as possible is the message to both remember and act on.
