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For anyone thinking twice about getting vaccinated this winter season, Spanish experts have an interesting take on things. According to the Spanish Association of Vaccinology (AEV), flu and Covid-19 jabs have benefits beyond preventing the diseases for which they were designed, as the flu vaccine also reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack, while coronavirus injections decreases thromboembolic complications.

 

The AEV is using this important information to raise awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated against respiratory infections, with the aim of increasing coverage rates this winter. They’ve even developed a social media campaign with the tagline: 'The best plan for this winter. Get vaccinated'.

 

Each year in Spain, the flu is responsible for 29,000 hospital stays, 2,200 ICU admissions and a shocking 1,600 deaths. That’s according to the president of the AEV, Jaime Pérez, who explained that there is evidence of the jab’s benefits against cardiovascular events, reducing the risk by a substantial 34% in the 12 months after its administration.

 

Other studies have also shown that the influenza vaccine can reduce the risk of ischaemic stroke in older adults by 12 to 16%, as well as decrease the risk of heart attack.

 

"Getting vaccinated against the flu can be as beneficial for our cardiovascular health as quitting smoking," Mr Pérez emphasised, referring to research presented a few years ago at the Congress of the European Society of Cardiology.

 

Regarding the Covid-19 vaccine, the Spanish Association of Vaccinology has indicated that it also has other associated benefits, such as mitigating arterial and venous events and reducing thromboembolic complications.

 

The Spanish Association of Cardiology (AEV) has warned that respiratory infections also trigger cardiovascular events and deaths. Specifically, Covid-19 increases the short-term risk of heart failure and blood clots, while pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of fatal pneumonia in the elderly, and influenza and pneumonia can increase cardiovascular events by up to 30%.

 

Nobody is automatically immune to coronavirus or influenza, but there are groups at substantially more risk. It’s now recommended to vaccinate children between six and 59 months of age against flu, while older adults should be getting both jabs.

 

In fact, the same research has shown that for people over 65, the risk of death associated with the flu increases fivefold if there is any chronic heart disease, twelvefold if there is any chronic lung disease, or twentyfold if both coexist.

 

 

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