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<h2>Flu Vaccine and COVID-19 Vaccine Are the Way Out</h2>
Because they help reduce the severity of co-infections
‘Respiratory viruses’ are another type that should be monitored and given importance because they have not disappeared and are ready to cause outbreaks again. That is “Influenza virus” 

The influenza virus is a major cause of acute respiratory infections, known as the flu, which has a high mortality rate among pregnant women, the elderly, and patients with chronic diseases. However, infections are still found in children four times more than in adults, and children often act as carriers transmitting the virus to adults.
<h2>Increasing Severity of Influenza Now and in the Future</h2>
Currently, reports from many countries, especially in Europe, show an increase in the severity of influenza. In the United States, outbreaks have also increased. Research from the University of Pittsburgh, USA, predicts that the 2021-2022 flu season is likely to be more severe than usual, which may lead to an increase in flu cases, especially in children, compared to pre-COVID-19 seasons. However, we can reduce the number of severe cases requiring hospitalization by increasing flu vaccination coverage by 20-50% compared to previous years.
<h2>Influenza Situation in Thailand</h2>
Influenza can infect people in all seasons throughout the year. Most cases are still found in young children aged 0-4 years. Although the number of cases may not seem high, doctors are concerned that in the coming months, entering the rainy season in May, with cooler and more humid weather, various viruses including COVID-19 will spread more easily and survive longer in the environment. This may result in an increased number of flu patients requiring hospitalization. 
At the same time, this is the period when foreign tourists gradually return to Thailand after the country reopened. Moreover, it coincides with the start of the new school term nationwide, increasing the risk of co-infection with both influenza and COVID-19 (also known as Co-Infection or Flurona), which may cause more severe symptoms, especially in high-risk groups.
<h2>Statistics of Influenza Infection in Children, Adults, and Pregnant Women</h2>
According to past statistics, children are four times more likely to get influenza than adults. Among pregnant women, those who get the flu are four times more likely to be hospitalized than pregnant women without the flu. Influenza in pregnancy often causes severe symptoms and can affect pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth, may be severe enough to require termination of pregnancy, or cause death of both mother and child. Therefore, pregnant women should protect themselves by getting the flu vaccine as soon as possible to pass on safety to newborns from day one, as infants cannot receive the flu vaccine until they are 6 months old, but immunity from the mother can protect the baby from severe flu symptoms. 
Additionally, high-risk groups, especially those aged 65 and older and those with chronic diseases such as lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and obesity, are at greater risk of severe influenza. 
Therefore, for safety and to reduce the risk of co-infection in the COVID-19 era, whether you are in a high-risk group or not, you should get both the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine, which is a cost-effective solution. 
The flu vaccine has been globally recognized for its efficacy and long-standing standards. The benefits and effectiveness of the flu vaccine include reducing the number of flu cases, reducing antibiotic use, decreasing doctor visits, reducing disease transmission, and lowering emergency room visits. Overall, the flu vaccine is beneficial for people of all ages, including those without chronic diseases.
<h2>The Importance of Vaccines in Reducing Severity from Complications</h2>
Getting the flu vaccine helps reduce the severity of illness and death from complications of influenza and reduces the spread of influenza to prevent large outbreaks. 
A study in the UK found that patients co-infected with COVID-19 and influenza had a 5.92 times higher risk of death than those without co-infection. Therefore, getting vaccinated against both influenza and COVID-19 is extremely important. 
Studies in the elderly show that those who received the flu vaccine tend to have reduced mortality rates from COVID-19. Receiving the flu vaccine before COVID-19 infection helps reduce hospitalization rates, use of ventilators, and length of hospital stay. 
There are also several studies in the United States and Brazil indicating that flu vaccination positively affects COVID-19 illness, reducing COVID-19 mortality by up to 10%.
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The flu vaccine should be administered annually. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States and many other countries, including the National Health Security Office (NHSO) of Thailand, have announced guidelines that the flu vaccine can be given together with the COVID-19 vaccine on the same day. If you are in a high-risk group and have not received the flu vaccine since last year, please get vaccinated as soon as possible.
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/187QUiVHFIN6-lj9xTWJ9ZHOFbKF-rM0M/view?usp=sharing">Click</a> for vaccination guidelines for adults and the elderly

A study in England found that patients co-infected with COVID-19 and influenza have a 5.92 times higher risk of death compared to those without co-infection. Therefore, getting vaccinated against both influenza and COVID-19 is important.

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