Israeli experts are urging people around the world of all ages, from six-month-old babies – to get vaccinated against influenza as temperatures fall in the northern hemisphere (in the southern hemisphere, they should already have received them). 

The number of flu cases – which have the potential to turn into serious and even fatal complications – was very low last year because of mask wearing and social distancing required by the COVID-19 pandemic. And as figures were low, the number of people who went for flu shots was low. 

Now, as the wearing of protective masks and keeping one’s distance have declined, the danger of influenza is potentially high, according to the virologists and epidemiologists. Having not been vaccinated last year – even though the flu virus changes from year to year and requires an annual shot – means people will be less protected, said Prof. Zvi Fridlender, a lung expert and head of an internal medicine department at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem. 

In addition, large numbers of people with serious complications of the flu (and hundreds elderly and chronically ill patients of all ages = die of such complications in Israel alone in a single year), the hospitals will be overwhelmed as they still have to cope with mostly-unvaccinated COVID patients, he continued. As it is, medical staffers around the world are exhausted by the ongoing pandemic, and manpower and medical equipment are short. 

And since the initial symptoms of COVID are often like flu symptoms, having the flu will cause a lot of confusion. 

Although the COVID-19 shots do not interfere with the flu shot, and vice versa, it is worth waiting a couple of weeks between them so as not to confuse any minor side effects that might occur from each shot, experts said. 

Cancer patients are especially at risk from the flu, says the Israel Cancer Association (ICA), which has just called on oncological patients to get vaccinated against influenza. Since this viral infection is especially dangerous among cancer patients and is associated with high hospitalization and death rates, it is therefore necessary to prevent or reduce as much as possible the burden of the disease.

Prof. Ido Wolf, who is director of the oncology department at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and chairman of the National Council for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Malignant Diseases – said that in Israel, the flu shot is given at all public health maintenance organization to which every Israeli is automatically a member.

ICA chairman and oncologist Prof. Avraham Kuten emphasizes that despite the intense work on the Corona virus and vaccines against the virus, it must not be forgotten that influenza is also here. “Flu is a viral disease characterized by large-scale seasonal outbreaks. Cancer patients, especially those who are in the midst of chemotherapy, have an increased tendency to develop complications as a result of the disease.”

The ICA calls on the family members of cancer patients to get vaccinated so as to reduce the risk of infecting the oncology patient with the flu. It is advisable to get vaccinated as soon as possible because about two weeks pass from the time the vaccine is given until a sufficient level of antibodies is created.

According to the association’s recommendations, if possible, it is better, but not essential, to receive the vaccine before starting chemotherapy or at a stage when the blood counts are relatively high. There is no contraindication to receiving the vaccine at all stages of training or biological treatment. In any case, it is advisable to consult the attending oncologist.