US pharmacies push for flu vaccines after several experts predict there may be second Covid-19 wave in fall
US pharmacies are gearing up to meet the rising demands for flu vaccinations, as experts predict a combined onslaught of Covid-19 and influenza in the fall and winter, reports suggest. The push comes after a poll found that about 60% of Americans are willing to get flu shots in fall. The Reuters/Ipsos poll, which surveyed 4,428 adults between May 13-19, also found that only 40% of the participants said that they had gotten a flu shot consecutively in the last five years.
Flu vaccines will play an enormous role in this battle against Covid-19, David Ross, vice president of commercial operations for North America at Seqirus, told Reuters. They are effective against the flu and not Covid-19, but can reduce the deaths and strain on hospitals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between October 2019 and April 2020, up to 56 million caught the flu. The same period saw up to 62,000 deaths.
This year, pharmacies are expecting a higher demand and are working to ensure the country has enough supplies a Reuters report said. One such company is CVS Health Corp. Other chains such as Walmart Inc and Walgreens Boots Alliance are also expecting a rise in demand. What is more, the pharmacy chain — which provided about 2.6 million flu shots last year — raised its order by 40 % this year, according to Jocelyn Konrad, Chief Pharmacy Officer at Rite Aid, a drug store chain in the country.
Global chains are also anticipating a surge. For instance, Australian vaccine maker CSL Ltd's Seqirus said demand from customers has increased by 10%. British-based GlaxoSmithKline said it is ready to ramp up manufacturing as per needs.
Given the need for social distancing during the Covid-19 era, public health experts will have to think of ways to vaccinate people. One option is developing drive-up clinics for flu vaccines, said Dr Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease. In the coming months, doctors in the US may have clinics in parks and community centers. They are also considering home visits for vulnerable patients, Ross told Reuters.
Why you need a flu shot?
Various studies have shown that these vaccines reduce the risk of contracting the flu by 40 to 60%. Its success depends on how well the vaccine matches the strain that dominates in a particular season. Some Americans shy away from getting one because they do not always protect against the disease. A survey delves into why some Americans avoid flu shots.
It found that 51% of the people said they had no confidence that they worked, 34% were worried about side effects, and 22% feared they would get the flu from the vaccine. Experts stress that flu shots help. "Even if it protects 35 to 40 % of the population, it’s a lot better than zero," University of Minnesota influenza expert Dr. Michael Osterholm said.
Flu vaccines can reduce hospitalizations and death rates in the country. "We're in for a double-barreled assault this fall and winter with flu and Covid-19. Flu is the one you can do something about," Vanderbilt University Medical Center infectious disease expert Dr William Schaffner told Reuters.