COVID-19 vaccine does not protect against influenza – Public Health Center

Vaccination against COVID-19 does not protect against influenza, Olena Levchenko, a specialist from the immunization department at Ukraine's Public Health Center, has told Ukrinform.

"A person vaccinated against COVID-19 is not protected against influenza. If he or she wishes to be vaccinated, he or she must consult a family doctor or pediatrician, who will provide the algorithm for vaccination against influenza at his or her own expense. The interval between doses of vaccines against COVID-19 and against influenza should be at least two weeks from the last vaccination. We recommend vaccination against both COVID and influenza," Levchenko said.

According to her, vaccination against COVID-19 and influenza are two different immunization measures. In particular, the COVID-19 vaccine protects the body against the COVID-19 virus, severe disease and death. The flu vaccine protects against flu viruses whose strains are relevant in the current season.

At the same time, the expert said that vaccination against both COVID-19 and influenza is important, because the combination of these two infections can lead to severe disease.

"Concomitant viral infections are much more difficult, so vaccination is one of the effective measures to prevent diseases and the consequences of the disease. Influenza vaccination is recommended as it reduces the likelihood of severe disease and complications," Levchenko said.

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