Kids who got seasonal flu shot less likely to have COVID-19 symptoms: Study

Children who have received a seasonal flu shot are less likely to experience COVID-19 symptoms, according to a new university study. 

Children who tested positive for COVID-19 and who received this season’s flu shot had lower chances of experiencing coronavirus symptoms, respiratory problems or severe disease, according to the study from the University of Missouri School of Medicine. 

The researchers reviewed records for influenza vaccination history of 905 pediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between February and August 2020. Of the 905 participants, 466 had not received a flu vaccine while 439 had. Of those immunized for the flu, 129 of them, or 29%, experienced COVID-19 symptoms. Among those not immunized, 170 of them, or 36%, experienced symptoms. In addition, 22% of patients immunized experienced respiratory symptoms compared to 28% of children not immunized.

The researchers also found that children with COVID-19 who received the pneumococcal vaccine also had lower odds of experiencing symptoms than those who didn’t — 1.6% versus nearly 12%. 

“It is known that the growth of one virus can be inhibited by a previous viral infection,” Dr. Anjali Patwardhan, study co-author and professor of pediatric rheumatology and child health, said in a statement Thursday. “This phenomenon is called virus interference, and it can occur even when the first virus invader is an inactivated virus, such as the case with the flu vaccine.”