Framework of our dynamic compartmental mannequin of the influence of vaccination methods on the incidence of SARS‐CoV‐2 infections and COVID‐19‐associated hospitalisations in Victoria. Credit score: Medical Journal of Australia (2025). DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52677
Timing your COVID-19 booster together with your annual flu vaccination could also be a handy and efficient strategy to shield your self in opposition to each viruses.
In a research printed at this time within the Medical Journal of Australia, Burnet researchers discovered that providing COVID-19 vaccination boosters alongside annual influenza vaccinations might cut back the incidence of COVID-19 and related hospital admissions.
Researchers used mathematical fashions to check situations the place COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered at completely different instances of the yr and concluded that though COVID-19 isn’t seasonal like influenza, growing COVID-19 booster charges by providing them concurrently the influenza vaccine was nonetheless prone to be an efficient public well being technique.
The research estimated that there may very well be a 4–14% discount in hospital admissions for COVID-19 by administering each vaccines on the identical time.
In 2023, there have been 62,000 hospitalizations and three,696 deaths associated to COVID-19 in Australia, greater than thrice the quantity of people that have been killed on Australian roads throughout the identical interval. Regardless of this, in the identical yr solely 11% of individuals aged over 16 years acquired a COVID-19 booster vaccination.
By comparability, there have been 376 deaths from influenza in 2023. Annual vaccination protection for influenza is 32%.
COVID-19 an infection can result in critical sickness that may influence each system within the physique, resulting in quite a lot of well being issues together with cognitive decline, immune system harm, liver impairment, kidney illness and decreased lung perform. It additionally will increase the chance of heart problems and diabetes.
Lingering an infection, known as lengthy COVID, may end up in sustained irritation that may trigger ongoing debilitating signs together with extreme fatigue, mind fog, complications, chest pains, dizziness, melancholy and anxiousness.
Burnet’s head of modeling and biostatistics and co-author of the research, Affiliate Professor Nick Scott, mentioned providing each vaccinations on the identical time may very well be a easy strategy to improve vaccination protection.
“COVID-19 can lead to a range of health complications and results in more hospitalizations and deaths every year than influenza,” he mentioned. “By offering a COVID-19 booster vaccination alongside the annual influenza vaccination, we could aim to achieve similar vaccination coverage for COVID-19 to influenza, which would make a meaningful difference in reducing hospital admissions and deaths.”
One other of the research’s co-authors, mathematical modeler Fenella McAndrew, mentioned the analysis confirmed that getting vaccinated at any time in opposition to COVID-19 was a profit, so it made sense to obtain each vaccinations collectively.
“Unlike influenza, COVID-19 doesn’t have a well-defined season, and when we modeled different scenarios the percentage of people receiving booster vaccinations was more important than the timing of the vaccination,” she mentioned.
“The COVID-19 vaccine gives 85% protection against severe disease, which is significantly higher than the influenza vaccine, which offers 44% protection against hospitalization. With such a reliable vaccine available for COVID-19, it makes sense for people to receive regular booster vaccinations to protect themselves.”
The Australian Authorities recommends COVID-19 booster vaccinations each 12 months for wholesome adults between the ages of 18 and 64 with none threat components. Older Australians, aged 75 and older with none threat components, are suggested to obtain a booster vaccination each 6 months.
Extra data:
Fenella McAndrew et al, Evaluating the influence of COVID‐19 vaccination methods on infections and hospitalisations in Victoria with non‐seasonal epidemic wave patterns: a modelling research, Medical Journal of Australia (2025). DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52677
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Providing COVID-19 and flu vaccinations collectively might cut back hospitalizations and deaths (2025, June 2)
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