In this Monday (20) edition of the Medical Correspondent chart, of the New Day, cardiologist Stephanie Rizk explained how the flu vaccine could fight the new strain that is causing epidemics of the disease in some capitals.
According to a study by the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, the available flu vaccines do not protect against the H3N2 strain. However, some experts believe that immunizers may have some degree of effectiveness against the variant.
The tactic of betting on existing vaccines to fight an as-yet-unknown variant is called cross-protection.
Rizk explains that the level of effectiveness of cross-protection is usually low, as it depends on an “immunological memory” acquired by the body, which would try to fight the new variant using the same resources learned when fighting the original virus.
Because of this, she reinforces the importance of maintaining care such as the use of masks, social distancing and hygiene, which prevent against the flu, as well as against Covid-19.
“The flexibility of the measures adopted to contain the pandemic certainly facilitated the transmission of the influenza virus, as well as other viruses”, according to the doctor. This greater exposure is the main incentive to get vaccinated with available immunizers.
The influenza virus undergoes several mutations and, annually, the World Health Organization (WHO) meets to decide which mutations the flu vaccine will act against. This year, the H3N2 mutation was left out.
“By March 2022 we should have the new flu vaccine, which will protect against this strain,” she says.
Basic care helps prevent Covid-19 and the flu
Reference: CNN Brasil
