Readers who had the flu or Covid at the end of the year report mild symptoms thanks to the vaccine

The end of 2021 has brought some hope that the pandemic may be coming to an end. That’s not to say that coronavirus and its variants will stop circulating anytime soon, but life could be a step closer to normal.

For readers of leaf, the vaccine is primarily responsible for alleviating the feeling of fear previously caused by coronavirus infection. Most reports sent to the newspaper indicate that symptoms of those who had Covid-19 at the end of the year were mild.

These reports have in common the indication of the two doses of vaccine against Covid-19 taken. That’s not to say you can get sloppy. The omicron variant already represents 30% of Brazilian cases, according to a survey carried out by ITpS (All for Health Institute) in partnership with Dasa and DB Molecular laboratories.

In some cases, even the booster dose had already found its way to readers, such as retired Iraci de Souza Silva, 59, from Fortaleza, Ceará. Iraci is part of the risk group, she has asthma, arrhythmia and hypertension, but she only had flu symptoms.

Veterinary medicine student Fernanda Ramos Teixeira de Paula, 24, does not know if she has Covid or the flu, because, according to her, the UBS where she was treated did not want to undergo a Covid test and advised her to come back in five days if symptoms persist.

“Many people do not know the correct diagnosis precisely because of the low adherence to tests at public health posts. I am vaccinated with two doses of Covid, but I have not been vaccinated for the flu, which may explain why my symptoms were stronger than those of other relatives,” he told the leaf.

According to the student, who has symptoms such as fever, sore throat and severe headache, at least half of the family members who attended the Christmas dinner are sick. “A relative had flu/Covid symptoms and went to meet us without warning him of the suspicion,” he says.

Readers who have been vaccinated against influenza report experiencing mild symptoms, unlike those who have not yet been immunized against influenza. In the house of Moraes, a couple from Guarujá, both cases are present.

Actor Eduardo Bordinhon de Moraes, 34, says that he and his girlfriend had flu-like symptoms and needed to postpone the turnaround in Caraguatatuba, on the north coast of São Paulo, to next year. Eduardo is vaccinated against the flu and had mild symptoms, but his girlfriend “got pretty bad.”

Eduardo says that his symptoms only lasted a day, but as a precaution and due to the stronger symptoms of his partner, “the supper gave way to broth and champagne to ginger tea”, he said.

The reports corroborate the effectiveness of the vaccine against Covid-19 and also help to remember that flu vaccines have been part of the Brazilian reality for a long time and are also effective. The only protection against Covid available on a large scale is a vaccine.

But there were those who were unharmed this end of the year and neither caught the flu nor caught Covid. Postal agent Alexandre de Matos, 48, who lives in the city of São Paulo, went straight to the point when he answered the question “did you catch the flu or Covid?” of the Leaf. “Did not say.

In order to remain unharmed like Alexandre, social distance, the use of a mask and hand hygiene with soap, running water and alcohol gel is essential. Especially in this beginning of the year, whose number of cases of Covid and flu increased, triggering the alert of health authorities.

Vaccines.