During these times of COVID, one thought which is on everyone’s mind is WHEN THE COVID VACCINE WILL COME? Now that’s a good question to ask because nobody is really sure of the answer. However, the good news is that they are not one, two, three, but probably over ten different companies working on the COVID vaccine. So we are confident that in the next six months to one year, we will have a COVID vaccine. But until then, what can we do? Most specifically, what can people with diabetes do?
The first thing, of course, is to look after your diabetes well and control it well because uncontrolled diabetes is definitely associated with poorer outcomes and even increased deaths and mortality due to COVID -19.
Diabetes individuals are at increased risk of respiratory infections. People with diabetes are about six times more likely than non-diabetics patients to be hospitalized with a diagnosis of influenza during flu epidemics and three times more likely to die of pneumonia or flu. Also, among people with diabetes, death rates increase by 5 to 15% during flu epidemics, and the case fatality rate for influenza is about 12%, while those for pneumococcal infection range from 21 to 36%1-3.
Diabetes is associated with a higher risk of Pneumococcal Pneumonia and are reported to have an increased incidence of deaths due to pneumococcal pneumonia. Indeed even young people with diabetes are at risk. A retrospective cohort analysis data reported that the incidence of pneumococcal pneumonia in younger persons with diabetes with underlying conditions in the US, 2007–2010, has an equally higher risk of pneumococcal pneumonia as the older people with diabetes4. The risk of invasive pneumococcal disease is 3-fold more in adults with diabetes compared to healthy adults5.
However there is something that you can do in the absence of the COVID vaccine. There are a couple of other vaccines that you can take, which may not prevent COVID-19, but if you get a secondary infection in the lung, then that can be avoided. The most frequent infections that affect older people are community-acquired pneumonia, and it can be prevented by taking pneumococcal vaccination. The best way to understand about the pneumococcal disease is to speak to your doctor6.
The below video explains the importance of Adult vaccinations for people with Diabetes in English.
The good news is that you need to take the pneumococcal vaccine only once. If you administer it once, you’re usually protected lifelong. Hence if you have been vaccinated it in the last 2 or 3 years, it’s probably not necessary to repeat that Pneumococcal vaccination. However, if you have not had it for many years or if you’re at an older age group (over 60 years of age) and you have diabetes, it’s a good idea to take the pneumococcal vaccination. Once you take it, you are protected for many years from getting pneumococcal pneumonia, which is one of the common causes of mortality in the elders.
The other vaccination which is will highly recommended for all people and especially for those with diabetes, and those who are at an older age group, is influenza vaccination. Unlike pneumococcal vaccination, the influenza vaccination has to be taken every year. Because it is valid only for one year if you have not had in the last one year, it is recommended that you take the influenza vaccination. Now how does this help? At least it will prevent you from getting common influenza whose symptoms are fever, cough, cold, etc. If one develops flu now, and top of that if you get COVID 19 also, obviously the results are not going to be so good. Also, since you are going to be protected from the regular ‘flu’ if you develop the symptoms of fever, cough, and cold, etc., you know it is more likely to be COVID.
You may ask, is there any other vaccination that a person with diabetes should take apart from the pneumococcal vaccination and influenza vaccination? Hepatitis B vaccination also is recommended because people often get cuts or wounds, or they may have a blood transfusion, or they may be going to a laboratory where they could be some cross infection and so on. Therefore taking hepatitis B vaccination is also recommended, but the first two pneumococcal vaccination and influenza vaccination are a must for all people with diabetes. Also, people who have lower immunity (e.g., those who are at older groups) and, besides any other co-existing illnesses, it is better to take pneumococcal vaccination and influenza vaccination.
Current Recommendation on Adult Pneumococcal immunization from Scientific bodies during COVID
▫ A quadrivalent influenza vaccine should be preferred.
Kindly note
▫ hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients of the vaccine ▫ history of chicken egg allergy particularly when considering flu shot
▫ recent history of Guillain‑Barre syndrome within six weeks of previous influenza vaccination in the case of a flu shot
▫ febrile illness or any acute infection
Improving Adult Immunization Coverage 11,12
Improving adult vaccination coverage could have positive consequences for individuals, families, and communities. Adult vaccination could also help to reduce healthcare costs, which is particularly crucial among more deprived communities. Improving adult vaccination coverage in India could help break the chain of infection, reduce the burden of disease among patients with chronic conditions, and prevent full community spread. Specifically, better coverage will result in reduced incidence rates, reduced hospital admissions, reduced health costs, and improved quality of life.
Intensive efforts are needed for the provision of vaccines in the national immunization schedule, that could help alleviate adult suffering from infectious diseases. Adult vaccination must become part of routine immunization because these vaccines can save millions of lives 8.
The below video explains the importance of Adult vaccinations for people with Diabetes in Tamil.
DR.V. MOHAN, M.D., FRCP, Ph.D., D.Sc., FNASc, FASc, FNA, FACE, FACP, FTWAS, MACP, FRSE
Awarded Padma Shri by Govt. of India
Chairman & Chief of Diabetology
Dr. A. AMUTHA,M.Sc.,R.D.,PGDDE.,Ph.D,
Scientist -YDR Projects,
Dept. of Epidemiology
Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre & Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, India
References:
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