Ming-Jim Yang, MD, MS; Benjamin J. Rooks, MS; Thanh-Tam Thi Le, MD; Inocente O. Santiago III, MD; Jeffrey Diamond, BS; Nicholas L. Dorsey, MD; Arch G. Mainous III, PhD
Corresponding Author: Ming-Jim Yang, MD; University of Florida. Email: mjyang527@ufl.edu
Section: Brief Report
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Introduction: To date, there are no effective treatments for decreasing hospitalizations in COVID-19 infections. It has been suggested that the influenza vaccine might attenuate the severity of COVID-19. Methods: This is a retrospective single-centered cohort review of a de-identified database of 2,005 patients over the age of 18 within the University of Florida health care system who tested positive for COVID-19. Comorbidities and influenza vaccination status were examined. Primary outcome was severity of disease as reflected by hospitalization and ICU admission. A logistic regression was performed to examine the relationship between influenza status and hospitalization. Results: Covid-19 positive patients who had not received the influenza vaccination within the last year had a 2.44 (1.68, 3.61) greater odds of hospitalization and a 3.29 (1.18, 13.77) greater odds of ICU admission when compared to those who were vaccinated. These results were controlled to account for age, race, gender, hypertension, diabetes, COPD, obesity, coronary artery disease, and congestive heart failure. Discussion: Our analysis suggests that the influenza vaccination is potentially protective from moderate and severe cases of COVID-19 infection. This protective effect holds regardless of comorbidity. The literature points to a potential mechanism via natural killer cell activation. Though our data potentially is limited by its generalizability and our vaccination rate is low, it holds significant relevance given the upcoming influenza season. Not only could simply encouraging influenza vaccination decrease morbidity and mortality from the flu, but it might help flatten the curve in regards to the COVID-19 epidemic as well. We encourage further studies into this finding.