Influenza Vaccination with the Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Severe Illness at the Al-Wafa House for the Care of the Infirm and the Elderly in Massa, Libya

SARS CoV-2 is a pandemic infection that is associated with a significant mortality rate in elderly patients due to severe acute respiratory SARS-CoV-2 infection. When compared to adults, children had a lesser vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 infection and a milder severity. This could be due to the large number of vaccines. This study was aimed to investigate whether the influenza vaccine may reduce the susceptibility and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. 79 inmates and workers at the Al-Wafa House for the Care of the Infirm and the Elderly in the Massa region was enrolled from November 15th to December first, 2020, and were test for SARS-CoV-2 infection by PCR on an oropharyngeal swab and presence of antibodies IgG/IgM against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clinical data, outcomes, BCG and influenza vaccination status were collected from the medical records. 3% of all subjects were positive for IgG and 16.7% were positive for both IgM and IgG at the same time. While 16.7% were negative for both antibodies. Only 17 workers were vaccinated against influenza on November 1st, all workers had received the BCG vaccination. 78.4% of all workers were positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG and 16.2% were positive for both SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG. Results from the present study found that 87% of all subjects had BCG vaccination, and this might offer at least partial protection against SARS-CoV-2. Results were also found that a relationship between vaccination against influenza and asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe symptoms associated with the SARS-CoV-2 were found at 13.54, 25.64, and 20.14 respectively, at a significant level. However, the relationship between vaccination against influenza and moderate symptoms associated with the SARS-CoV-2 infection was not significant. According to a current study, influenza immunization could lower SARS-CoV-2 mortality. Prospective investigations are required to verify this conclusion.

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