Does a flu shot increase your chances of getting COVID-19?
Does a flu shot increase your chances of getting COVID-19?
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There is no evidence that flu shots (influenza vaccines) increase someone's chances of getting COVID-19. Flu shots are widely considered a safe way to help prevent someone from getting sick with the flu. A September 2020 publication in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science by researchers from the Cleveland Clinic analyzed data from 13,000+ COVID-19 tests, comparing people who received flu shots with people who did not receive flu shots. The researchers found that people who received flu shots were not at higher risk of being hospitalized, being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), or dying from COVID-19. Doctors and public health experts recommend flu shots for the general public as a safe way to protect against severe illness and death from the flu, which is important during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce strains on health systems and healthcare workers.
There is no evidence that flu shots (influenza vaccines) increase someone's chances of getting COVID-19. Flu shots are widely considered a safe way to help prevent someone from getting sick with the flu. A September 2020 publication in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science by researchers from the Cleveland Clinic analyzed data from 13,000+ COVID-19 tests, comparing people who received flu shots with people who did not receive flu shots. The researchers found that people who received flu shots were not at higher risk of being hospitalized, being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), or dying from COVID-19. Doctors and public health experts recommend flu shots for the general public as a safe way to protect against severe illness and death from the flu, which is important during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce strains on health systems and healthcare workers.
Publication
What our experts say
There is no evidence that flu shots (influenza vaccines) increase someone's chances of getting COVID-19. Flu shots are widely considered a safe way to help prevent someone from getting sick with the flu.
A September 2020 publication in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science by researchers from the Cleveland Clinic analyzed data from 13,000+ COVID-19 tests, comparing people who received flu shots with people who did not receive flu shots. The researchers found that people who received flu shots were not at higher risk of being hospitalized, being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), or dying from COVID-19.
Doctors and public health experts recommend flu shots for the general public as a safe way to protect against severe illness and death from the flu, which is important during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce strains on health systems and healthcare workers.
There is no evidence that flu shots (influenza vaccines) increase someone's chances of getting COVID-19. Flu shots are widely considered a safe way to help prevent someone from getting sick with the flu.
A September 2020 publication in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science by researchers from the Cleveland Clinic analyzed data from 13,000+ COVID-19 tests, comparing people who received flu shots with people who did not receive flu shots. The researchers found that people who received flu shots were not at higher risk of being hospitalized, being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), or dying from COVID-19.
Doctors and public health experts recommend flu shots for the general public as a safe way to protect against severe illness and death from the flu, which is important during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce strains on health systems and healthcare workers.
Context and background
Public health agencies have been widely promoting flu shots (influenza vaccines), particularly with the Northern Hemisphere entering peak flu season in fall 2020. Despite rumors spreading via social media, flu shots have been safely used for decades to protect millions of people from getting sick. During the COVID-19 pandemic, flu shots are an important preventative measure to reduce strains on health systems and save lives.
Public health agencies have been widely promoting flu shots (influenza vaccines), particularly with the Northern Hemisphere entering peak flu season in fall 2020. Despite rumors spreading via social media, flu shots have been safely used for decades to protect millions of people from getting sick. During the COVID-19 pandemic, flu shots are an important preventative measure to reduce strains on health systems and save lives.
Resources
- Flu Shot Not Associated with Increased Risk of COVID-19, Study Finds (Cleveland Clinic)
- Safety of influenza vaccine during COVID-19 (Journal of Clinical and Translational Science)
- Flu Shot Not Associated with Increased Risk of COVID-19, Study Finds (Cleveland Clinic)
- Safety of influenza vaccine during COVID-19 (Journal of Clinical and Translational Science)
