Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(1):14-17 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6573

Annual influenza vaccination effect on the susceptibility to COVID-19 infection

Betul Erismis1, 2, Semsi Nur Karabela2, 3, Fatma Eksi4, Faruk Karandere1, Bekir Dogan1, Fatih Okay1, Melih Filiz1, Hakan Kocoglu1, Halim Issever5, Mehmet Hursitoglu1, 6, Kadriye Kart Yasar3
1 Internal Medicine Department, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
2 Hamidiye Health Services College, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
3 Infectious Diseases Department, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
4 Infectious Diseases Department, Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
5 Public Health Department, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
6 Internal Medicine Department, Basaksehir Cam and Sakura Sehir Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey

Objectives: We aimed to study the effect of seasonal influenza (flu) vaccination on the susceptibility to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: A total of 203 healthcare workers of a pandemic centre of Istanbul, Turkey, were included in this retrospective study. According to the presence or absence of flu vaccination, participants were divided into group 1 and group 2. A comparison of the rate of COVID-19 was done between these two groups. Also, the mean age and the sex ratio of females/males were evaluated and compared between these two groups.

Results: Group 1 participants (n = 65) were older than participants in group 2 (n = 138) (p < 0.05). Despite of this, interestingly, the COVID-19 infection rate was lower in the 1st group (in comparison to the 2nd group) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Our study results showed that, even if low, the flu vaccination may have a protective effect on the susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. Using this beneficial adjuvant effect of the vaccine may help us in this unpredictable battle with the COVID-19 pandemic. Further studies are needed to confirm this assumption.

Keywords: influenza, vaccination, COVID-19, protection

Received: October 21, 2020; Revised: February 8, 2021; Accepted: February 8, 2021; Published: March 31, 2021  Show citation

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Erismis B, Karabela SN, Eksi F, Karandere F, Dogan B, Okay F, et al.. Annual influenza vaccination effect on the susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2021;29(1):14-17. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a6573. PubMed PMID: 33831281.
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