The importance of flu shots in the pandemic

By Ryn Williams, Layout Editor

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends for most people above six months of age to get a yearly influenza vaccination, especially those who are considered high risk.

One way to combat the spread of influenza is by obtaining herd immunity.
Herd immunity happens when a large portion of the population is immune to a disease. Since less people have the disease, it spreads less, thus protecting the majority of the population, “the herd.” It is calculated by the number of infectious cases and the number of secondary cases generated by the infectious.

While herd immunity against COVID-19 is improbable due to its infectiousness, herd immunity against the influenza vaccination is much more achievable. Less than 50 percent of people need to be immunized against influenza to secure herd immunity.

Dr. Jacob Aguilar, an assistant professor of mathematics and the associate director of the honors program at Saint Leo University, studies epidemiology with a recent focus on COVID-19 and its impact over the past two years.

“It’s not only flu vaccines, it flu vaccines in the pandemic still,” said Aguilar. “In general, COVID-19 is more contagious and the symptoms are more severe, but I would be worried about having a co-infection.”

In November 2020, The Lions’ Pride published an article on the “twindemic” of COVID-19 and influenza. Since then, a vaccine for COVID-19 has been created and the severity of the pandemic has lessened enough for the CDC to reduce previous restrictions.

However, one hospital found that patients with both COVID-19 and the flu were more than twice as likely to require ventilation compared to those with just COVID-19.

“People who haven’t done the flu vaccine before should strongly reconsider it now,” said Aguilar. “It’s a different reality we’re in.”

Aguilar estimates that the COVID-19 pandemic may last for another decade.
“Even if you don’t want to get the COVID-19 vaccine for your own reasons, still get the flu vaccine so you don’t get hit with both,” said Aguilar. “We saw the effect on our community and populations when hospitals were overextended–and many surgeries that were technically not elective got labeled elective.”

According to Reuters, many hospital systems in almost half of the United States have suspended “elective” surgeries due to the omicron wave of COVID-19.

It can be beneficial to stay updated on your flu vaccination status. According to Aguilar, flu shots are updated each year based on the prevalence and strains of the last year.

Khamille Labbè, a senior majoring in English with a specialization in professional writing, has never gotten a flu shot.

“My mom never made me, and ever since I’ve been in this country, I never did,” said Labbè, though she is indifferent to the vaccine and may get one in the future.

With the new release of the reformulated COVID-19 booster, many people are rushing to the pharmacy for both immunizations.

Lizzie Zacharias, a senior majoring in medical humanities on the pre-med track, gets her flu shot every year.

“I think if both [the COVID-19 and influenza]vaccines could be combined, that would be amazing,” said Zacharias. “It would reduce people needing to go back for multiple shots.”

There will be a flu vaccination clinic for Saint Leo employees on September 21, from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. on the university campus. Additionally, flu shots are available at most retail pharmacies with appointments.

This chart shows how the more people who become infected by the virus, the higher the population needs to be to reach herd immunity. According to Aguilar, the number is closer to 1.7 infections than 2.