Flu and pneumonia vaccine tied to lower risk of Alzheimer’s.

Used to think the flu jab was an independent choice, but I do think this winter it is more of a duty to keep infections down. If it also might protect, even slightly, against Alzheimers, that is just an added bonus!

I wonder if this will sway the anti vaxxers at all?

HRT has been shown to protect against Alzheimer’s too. ?

Apparently the pneumonia jab appears to give some protection against Covid’s severe lung symptoms in more ill patients

I never usually have the flu vaccine, but this year I definitely will, and will also ask for the pneumonia jab.

My surgery invited me to have the pneumonia vaccine as I'm over 65. The nurse told me that it's a good one to have at the moment. Apparently over 65s only need one dose, then no repeat.

Up to date hearing aids are a must to guard against Alzheimer's as well because it's been found that those who are hard of hearing can succumb to this illness more so than those with normal hearing.

As for the 'flu-jab, I have mine booked for the 24th of next month before the rush. My pneumonia vaccine was done 12 years ago, apparently no need for a repeat. The shingles one was done a few months back.

Didn’t realise they’ve started flu jabs yet EV?

I didn’t know that about hearing loss either.

Greeneyedgirl or are these rumours put about to encourage flu & pneumonia jabs?

Greeneyedgirl

Didn’t realise they’ve started flu jabs yet EV?

My surgery invited me for the 15 September, but all their sessions are already booked up and they can't give me a date yet.

They haven’t started yet well not here anyway I will do what I do every year and pop in my boots pharmacy when I m out shopping

I’m wondering just how people can catch ‘flu this year. I’m staying away from crowded places, wearing a mask when I do venture out, and keeping to social distancing and hand hygiene.

Both ‘flu and Covid have similar transmissions systems. If you're at risk of catching one then you are at risk of catching either or both.

Also this from the BMJ

Flu shots and the risk of coronavirus infections
John Watkins is right; we need to think beyond containment, but he overlooks the possibility that seasonal flu shots are potential contributors to the current outbreak. (BMJ 2020;398:m810—February 28)….A randomized placebo-controlled trial in children showed that flu shots increased fivefold the risk of acute respiratory infections caused by a group of noninfluenza viruses, including coronaviruses. (Cowling et al, Clin Infect Dis 2012;54:1778) From Table 3, vaccine recipients had 20 noninfluenza virus-positive ARIs and 19 virus-negative ARIs; non-recipients had 3 noninfluenza virus-positive ARIs and 14 virus-negative ARIs. These figures yield an odds ratio of 4.91 (CI 1.04 to8.14).

Such an observation may seem counterintuitive, but it is possible that influenza vaccines alter our immune systems non-specifically to increase susceptibility to other infections; this has been observed with DTP and other vaccines. (Benn et al, Trends in Immunology, May 2013) There are other immune mechanisms that might also explain the observation.

To investigate this possibility, a case-control study is in order as we study and care for the victims of covid-19. Influenza vaccines have become sacred cows in some quarters, but they shouldn’t be.

Furret that's worrying, when everybody will be rushing to be vaccinated even people who don't usually. Hard to know what to do for the best.

I saw that research Furret and it does seem more concerning than in other years when the most common coronavirus we would encounter would be the common cold, which isn’t life threatening, whereas flu kills many, mostly elderly each year.

It would explain the fact that some attest that after the flu vacc they have had more colds and coughs, and some in fact swear their vacc caused them to have flu. I have always taken this with a pinch of salt, as the flu vacc is attenuated and cant cause flu.......but now perhaps a susceptibility to coronoviruses may in fact be true.

Needs more research, as you say and on balance I will have it this year I think. To become ill from flu or COVID-19, which to choose ?

BlueSky

Furret that's worrying, when everybody will be rushing to be vaccinated even people who don't usually. Hard to know what to do for the best.

I agree.