Epidemiologist says influenza vaccine can reduce risk of heart attacks

Epidemiologist Dr Michael Baker says increased rates of influenza virus can increase the amount of heart attacks because it can inflame and injure the heart muscle directly. Photo / RNZ

By RNZ

The annual flu vaccine – which becomes available this coming week in New Zealand – can reduce the risk of heart attacks, an epidemiologist says.

Epidemiologist Dr Michael Baker told RNZ’s Sunday Morning that the influenza vaccine didn’t just reduce the risk and severity of the flu, it also reduced the risk of heart attacks and strokes by about a third for those infected.

He said increased rates of influenza can increase the number of heart attacks because it can inflame and injure the heart muscle directly.

“The illness itself ... puts stress on the organs as well and also makes the blood more prone to clotting.”

Baker said the vaccine can be as effective as heart-attack medication for those infected by influenza.

He also said there were some vaccines – which are not funded – that were better suited for older people.

What’s happening with Covid?

Baker said the world was currently dealing with subvariants of Covid-19 and the latest wave was New Zealand’s biggest in 18 months.

“These waves are getting smaller, that’s the good news, but it is still causing what looks like two waves a year. It’s not seasonal at all – it can come in summer or winter – and has a mix of sub-types and sub-variants.”

Long Covid was also still a worry and could affect all age groups, Baker said.

“Quality of life is reduced and while there is often some improvement over time, many of these people in fact will have a severe long-term disability.

“And also like influenza, post-Covid infection, you are also at higher risk of having heart attacks and strokes, for example,” he said.

– RNZ