For over two years, the
seasonal flu has all but disappeared from the list of top concerns, experts
preferring to focus their undivided attention on the coronavirus. Now that the
pandemic risk has toned down, the flu virus has returned to the spotlight. In
Romania, doctors warn that the virus has already begun to spread. The start of
a new school year has caused an increase in the number of respiratory
infections. Medical doctor Cecilia Rotar explains:
We’ve had three cases that
were confirmed by lab results, reported in children aged 9 months to 4 years. A
person without a medical history will be less affected by the virus. But if we
refer to people with low immunity, children under 4 years of age, pregnant
women, adults with a history of heart disease or diabetes, the evolution of the
disease will be slower and may lead to complications. My recommendation is that
people should see a doctor if they have the slightest suspicion they might be
sick or if parents decide they can’t treat their children at home. We’ll take
over and decide the best course of action.
Health experts expect a
larger impact of the flu virus this winter, after two years of being kept in
check due to anti-COVID safety restrictions. This is why vaccination remains
key to reducing the risk of infection, both in the case of the flu virus and
for coronavirus, particularly for at-risk categories. The first vaccine batches
are already available in drugstores. Epidemiologist Emilian Popovici says
people can take both the anti-flu and the anti-COVID vaccine on the same day.
There is no sign of
incompatibility between the two vaccines, on the contrary, they can be
administered on the same day, although not in the same arm. If we administer
one vaccine in the right arm, then we administer the other one in the left arm.
Moderna at one point announced its plans to develop a bivalent vaccine against
both the flu virus and SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, these vaccines are important and
they are administered depending on the medical history of each person.
Flu is a seasonal
respiratory virus that manifests differently in each person and may even lead
to death. (VP)