Flu vaccination linked to fewer COVID-19 infections and less severity

The influenza vaccine appears to provide some protection against COVID-19, according to a retrospective cohort study using data from 4.5 million patients tested for the disease within the Michigan Medicine health care system, based in Ann Arbor. The researchers found patients who received the influenza vaccine in the preceding year had significantly lower odds of testing positive for COVID-19 compared to those who did not receive the vaccine, even though the vaccinated patients had more comorbidities and tended to be older. Vaccinated patients who contracted COVID-19 were also less likely to require hospitalization or mechanical ventilation and had shorter hospital stays. (American Journal of Infection Control article, 2/22/21)