Is It Recommended To Have Both Vaccines Together
Results from the ComFluCOV study have shown that administering a flu vaccine at the same time as a second dose of a covid-19 vaccine is safe.19 Guidance from the UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation says that the vaccines can be offered together where operationally expedient but advises that the covid-19 booster vaccine programme should not disrupt or delay deployment of the annual influenza vaccination programme.20 It advises general practices to offer the covid and flu vaccines as soon as patients are eligible rather than delaying to wait for deliveries of either vaccine so as to administer both at the same time. There is no evidence that having both jabs in the same arm makes them any less effective, but many people having both together are choosing different arms to reduce soreness.
How Coronavirus Compares With Flu And Pneumonia As A Cause Of Death
The number of deaths with coronavirus as the underlying cause has fallen from previous peaks, but it remains higher than the number caused by flu and pneumonia.
23 May 2022
Notice, 30 May 2022: The number of deaths due to flu and pneumonia has been corrected for the winter periods 2020/21 and 2021/22 in the wording of the section titled ‘With coronavirus restrictions now lifted, is flu coming back?’ and in the final chart.
Coronavirus has been the underlying cause of death in more than four times as many deaths as flu and pneumonia in England and Wales since March 2020. Annually, deaths due to COVID-19 have been higher than those due to flu and pneumonia in any year since 1929.
Although mortality from COVID-19 has reduced since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, it is not yet clear whether the disease is behaving similarly to flu and pneumonia. While the data presented in this article cannot give a definitive answer as to how individuals should view the disease, it can put COVID-19 mortality in context.
There were 148,606 deaths where COVID-19 was identified as the underlying cause of death in England and Wales between the weeks ending 13 March 2020 and 1 April 2022, compared with 35,007 deaths due to flu and pneumonia.
In contrast, there were 170,600 deaths, where COVID-19 was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate as cause or contributory factor, compared to 219,207 deaths involving flu and pneumonia.
People Died In The Worst Flu Season Of The Past Decade Covid
Around 61,000 people died from influenza in the 2017-2018 flu season, the most in the last 10 years. Almost 529,000 people have died of COVID-19 as of mid-March.
With the COVID-19 vaccination effort continuing and the infection rate declining, the nation might soon return to something like normal. But the US still contends with viruses like the seasonal flu annually. While much less deadly than the COVID-19 pandemic, the average flu season kills thousands of Americans each year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
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How Many Total Flu
So far this flu season, 131 people have died from the virus, per the CDC. There have also been 7,516 positive flu cases this season, which is already a big jump over last year, per CDC data.
The numbers are higher than last year, which isnt shocking, says William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. People are getting out more and taking less precautions than they did last flu season, he says.
Still, the same disease-prevention practices weve mastered to slow the spread of COVID-19 can also impact impacted flu transmission, says David Cennimo, M.D., assistant professor of medicine-pediatrics infectious disease at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. While flu rates are higher than last years extraordinarily low numbers, theyre still lower than your average flu season. Thats a byproduct of efforts like masking, hand-washing, and social distancing, Dr. Cennimo says.
Flu deaths have also depend on how many people get the flu vaccine, says Richard Watkins, M.D., infectious disease physician and professor of medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University. Millions more doses than usual were distributed this winter, hinting at a higher rate of flu vaccination among the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Fatal Crash Closes Section Of 402
A single-vehicle rollover crash has claimed the life of a driver near Strathroy, according to police.
OPP, EMS and local fire crews were called to the scene around 5:30 Wednesday morning.
Police say a vehicle was heading east on the 402 when it flipped into the grassy centre median.
At this time it’s unknown what the contributing factors might be, Cont. Jeff hare told CTV News. But at this time, you know, it was a clear night, the roads were believed to be clear.”
Police also say the driver was the lone occupant of the vehicle and was pronounced deceased at a local hospital shortly after the crash.
The eastbound lanes of the 402 were closed between Centre Road and Hickory Road while police investigated, but have since been reported.
#MiddlesexOPP confirming #Hwy402 EB is now OPEN again. Thank you to everyone for your #Patience ^jh
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Coronavirus Vs Flu Deaths
The first thing to know is that deaths due to COVID-19 and the flu are not counted in the same way. This means comparing the numbers isnt as straightforward as we would like.
Each death due to influenza in the U.S. does not have to be reported, so there is never a direct count. Each flu season, the CDC estimates deaths from the flu based on in-hospital deaths and death certificate data. They continue to update the data on their website as they collect it. Therefore, numbers from the last two flu seasons are not considered final just yet.
Conversely, each death due to COVID-19 is being recorded. The numbers you see and hear about are not estimates. So you can see how comparing mortality rates between the two isnt exact at this point.
That said, heres a quick look at the number of cases and deaths for the last two flu seasons and COVID-19 to date:
| 180,000+ |
Biden Goes To Kimmel Trudeau Meets Barbados Counterpart On Day 1 Of Summit Of The Americas
U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are charting markedly different paths today at the Summit of the Americas. Before his leader-level meetings get underway, Biden is sitting down to tape an appearance with talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel. Trudeau, who arrived in Los Angeles late Tuesday, is getting down to work on environmental priorities with Barbados counterpart Mia Mottley.
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While the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot was won in Quebec, Ontario residents won more than a dozen large prizes, with two sold in the north. Here is where they were sold.
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When Is Influenza Fatal
Although most people will recover from the flu within about two weeks or less, complications of the flu can cause influenza to become fatal. Complications of the flu include:
- Adults over age 65
- Young children
Talk to your healthcare provider about any concerns you have about your risk for the flu and what you can do to protect yourself.
Injuries Crowding Reported After ‘chaos’ At Phoebe Bridgers Concert In Toronto
Fans who attended singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers concert last night at Torontos Echo Beach are reporting issues with crowding and say some attendees suffered injuries and lost consciousness.
Those who were at the show say it was paused at least five times for individuals to receive medical attention.
Kevin Kania attended Tuesday nights concert, arriving at around 7:30 p.m.
I didn’t experience any pushing or shoving myself, he told CTV News Toronto Wednesday, adding that he did witness other fans lose consciousness.
I saw maybe three security guards show up and pick up whoever fainted and take them out of the crowd, he said.
Toronto paramedics confirmed they attended the event and transported two people to local hospital with minor injuries, adding they expect there were others who fell unconscious.
Erin Laidley said she arrived at the show around 7:30 p.m and the venue, at that time, was a mess from those who had waited all day for the concert.
“Ive never been to a show where so many people passed out or needed medical attention,” Laidley said. “A lot of people near the front had camped out, in the rain, for 12+ hours to get barricade so some of the medic calls couldve been from feeling faint because of dehydration or not eating enough before the show.”
Another attendee, Sammy Talukder, told CTV News Toronto they experienced the aggression and saw injuries inflicted.
like u cant be serious.
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How Deadly Is The Flu
Influenza, commonly known as “the flu,” is a virus that affects millions of people in the United States each year. Most people recover after a short bout of illness. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that between 1999 and 2019, 1.8 of every 100,000 people in the U.S. who got the flu died from it.
The severity of the flu, and its subsequent impact, changes from year to year. Older people, babies younger than 6 months old, pregnant people, and people with certain underlying health conditions are at a higher risk of complications from the flu.
This article provides flu mortality rates and discusses the warning signs, risk factors, and treatments for the flu.
With Coronavirus Restrictions Now Lifted Is Flu Coming Back
The number of deaths due to flu and pneumonia in the most recent winter was higher than the previous winter .
There were 6,898 deaths due to flu and pneumonia in December 2021 to March 2022, compared with 5,288 in December 2020 to March 2021.
Deaths due to flu and pneumonia in both these winters remained well below levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic. It is possible that lockdowns and measures such as social distancing put in place to curb the spread of coronavirus also reduced the spread of flu compared with previous years.
Deaths due to flu and pneumonia increased in the most recent winter but remained below pre-coronavirus pandemic levels
Weekly deaths registered due to flu and pneumonia, England and Wales, week ending 13 March 2020 to 1 April 2022
While deaths due to flu and pneumonia did see a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, our analysis shows COVID-19 led to a sharp rise in excess deaths during the winter of 2020 to 2021.
In that winter, deaths due to both COVID-19 and flu and pneumonia far exceeded those due to flu and pneumonia alone in pre-coronavirus pandemic years.
In the latest winter , the number of deaths with COVID-19 as the underlying cause has fallen more in line with those due to flu and pneumonia in pre-coronavirus pandemic years.
The number of deaths due to COVID-19 is still double that of those due to flu and pneumonia in the same period, as there have been considerably fewer deaths due to flu and pneumonia over the last two winters.
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Why Can The Flu Be So Deadly
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness thats caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs, the CDC explains. There are two main typesinfluenza A and Bthat regularly circulate each year. While plenty of people get the flu, have a miserable period of illness, and then recover, others can actually die of the virus.
Influenza is a respiratory virus that has the ability to kill at a very high rate, even in the modern era, says infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. In severe cases, it causes pneumonia that can be complicated with a secondary bacterial infection.
Other possible serious complications triggered by the flu, per the CDC, can include:
- inflammation of the heart
- inflammation of the brain
- inflammation of the muscle tissues
- multi-organ failure
What Are The Symptoms
The known symptoms for influenza and covid-19 are nearly identical: fever, cough, body aches, fatigue and at times vomiting and diarrhea. Both illnesses can manifest in mild or severe ways or even cause death, according to Lisa Lockerd Maragakis, senior director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins Health System.
As of now, there are no unique clinical signatures that distinguish the onset of covid-19 from influenza, Nolan said. Research on the known cases so far suggests that the vast majority, some 80 percent, are mild. Health officials have urged those experiencing mild symptoms to self-manage from home with over-the-counter cold and flu aids, rather than crowding hospital emergency and waiting rooms.
Those experiencing more severe symptoms, such as trouble breathing, lethargy or a fever that wont break, should call a doctor. Both the coronavirus and influenza can cause pneumonia, an infection of the lungs that can be life-threatening in infants, children and people over 65.
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What Are The Mortality Rates Associated With Influenza
Unlike adult flu-related deaths, pediatric flu-related deaths are reportable in the United States. For the 2019-2020 influenza season, 55,000 influenza-related hospitalizations had been reported as of early January 2020, and 2900 attributable deaths had been reported at that time, including 27 pediatric deaths.
The following statistics are offered for comparison:
- The 1918 H1N1 influenza pandemic caused 500,000-700,000 deaths in the United Statesalmost 200,000 of them in October 1918 aloneand an estimated 30-40 million deaths worldwide, mostly among people aged 15-35 years
- The 1957 H2N2 influenza pandemic caused an estimated 70,000 deaths in the United States and 1-2 million fatalities worldwide
- The 1968 H3N2 influenza pandemic caused an estimated 34,000 deaths in the United States and 700,000 to 1 million fatalities worldwide
How Does Flu Risk Vary Byage
As with COVID-19, most flu deaths occur among Americans aged 65 or older. As of March 19, almost 81% of people who have died from COVID-19 have been in this age group. This is within the range of a normal flu season, with older Americans making up 62% of flu deaths in the 2019-2020 season, 75% in the 2018-2019 season, and 83% in the 2017-2018 season.
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Which Virus Is More Deadly
Thats a difficult question to answer for many reasons. First, health officials are not comparing analogous data sets between the viruses. They have years of influenza data but just months of covid-19 numbers which are evolving by the day. Its possible the estimated death rates for the coronavirus might be inflated because a considerable number of people likely have or had the virus but were not diagnosed because their symptoms were too mild to see a doctor.
There is also a number of asymptomatic infections we dont know about, Nolan said.
World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a news briefing March 3 that the global case fatality rate for the coronavirus is believed to be about 3.4 percent, higher than the 2.3 percent reported in a China CDC study released in February. But a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine last week found a death rate of 1.4 percent among a group of 1,099 patients, suggesting the rate could be lower than those reported by the WHO and Chinese officials.
When Is The Flu Season
The CDC determines the start and end of flu season by monitoring flu activity illnesses, medical visits, and hospitalizations through its influenza surveillance systems. Most seasons begin in October, peak between December and February, and continue through May. The 2019-2020 flu season was unusual in that flu activity began to decline in March. According to the CDC, this was perhaps associated with community prevention measures for COVID-19.
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Data Can Include Deaths By Poison
Another model assumes that every extra death that happens in the winter is a flu death. At the risk of oversimplifying, this is the basic formula of that model: winter deaths summer deaths = death by flu virus.
That includes winter deaths from slippery sidewalks, snowy roads, freezing temperatures, plus all the winter heart failure, lung failure and deaths from cancer. In the language of the computer model, all excess mortality in winter is considered “death by flu.”
The model extrapolates that the flu virus will cause more deaths across all causes, including “disorders of the nervous system,” stroke and “disorders of the digestive system.” Which means that according to the model, flu causes 33 more “accidental falls” every year, 18 more “accidental poisonings,” and 68 more deaths from “psychotic conditions.” But what does flu have to do with deaths from accidental poisonings or accidental falls?
‘If they don’t collect that information, how do they know that their policies will work? This is called faith-based medicine.’ Dr. Tom Jefferson
The models are only as good as the data sets that are fed into them. And death can be complicated. If someone already extremely fragile with heart or lung disease is tipped over the edge with a flu infection, is that a flu death, or a heart death or a lung death? Which database gets to claim it?