Four Major Vaccine Manufacturers Produce 19% More Vaccines Than Last Year
Symptoms Cannot Distinguish Between Flu and COVID-19
Large-Scale Vaccination Needed to Alleviate Medical Burden
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] This year, vaccine manufacturers in the United States plan to prepare the largest amount of flu vaccines ever, CNBC reported on the 4th (local time). This is a measure to prevent the simultaneous spread of COVID-19 and the flu.
Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said in an interview, "Although we have not yet developed a COVID-19 vaccine, we do have ways to prevent the flu." This year, the four major vaccine manufacturers in the U.S. plan to prepare 200 million doses of flu vaccine, which is a 19% increase compared to last year.
[Image source=Yonhap News]
According to CDC data, about half of U.S. adults and around 60% of youths receive flu vaccinations annually. Health authorities plan to increase this rate this year, judging that it would be difficult to handle flu patients on top of the increased medical burden caused by COVID-19.
Analysis shows that every year, between 9 million and 45 million people in the U.S. contract the flu. Among them, about 140,000 are hospitalized, and between 12,000 and 61,000 people lose their lives. Flu vaccination does not prevent all types of flu. According to analysis, the flu vaccine is about 20-60% effective. However, health authorities believe that this level of effectiveness can prevent millions of flu cases.
As the fall and winter flu seasons approach, the medical community is also on alert. The COVID-19 pandemic alone has been overwhelming, and now there is the possibility of facing the new uncertainty of the flu.
Dr. Jose Romero, an expert in pediatric infectious diseases, said, "There is another reason to get the flu vaccine this year," adding, "Because clinically, it is impossible to distinguish between the flu and COVID-19, so infection status can only be guessed." The similarity of flu and COVID-19 symptoms may cause difficulties in identifying the disease name for medical professionals and others.
However, among experts, there is a forecast that the flu may be less prevalent this year than in the past. Enhanced hygiene measures such as social distancing and hand washing may reduce the possibility of infection not only for COVID-19 but also for the flu.
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