Opinion
Another health advocate has said the phenomenon is genuine and take it from me, it is. But not in the way shes suggesting
You dont need a man to tell you man flu is real, although he still will. And now health advocates are agreeing with us: nutritionist Jenna Hope, author of the new book How to Stay Healthy, is perhaps the most recent to argue that men really do suffer more than women when theyre ill. When we look at the evidence we find that the female immune system is actually stronger than the male immune system, she told the Times. Women have higher levels of progesterone and oestrogen, she says, which tend to support the immune system, while men have higher levels of testosterone, which suppresses immunity.
But when we talk about man flu, are we really talking about an increased sensitivity to symptoms, or just a decreased ability to stop going on about them? The term man flu has always suggested exaggeration, not least because the illness in question is almost never flu; its usually just a cold.
The distinction seems important. If the hypothesis is that men suffer more than women when theyre under the weather, then Ive never experienced anything that would allow me to argue in favour of it. If the contention is that men make an unnecessarily big deal out of a few relatively minor symptoms, then Im living proof of its truth. Ive been doing that all morning.
The most often cited evidence of the existence of man flu is a 2017 British Medical Journal review that found a number of studies suggesting men have a weaker immune response to viral respiratory infection, resulting in longer lasting illness and symptoms. But your immune response is what makes you feel bad in the first place its what makes your throat ache and your nose run. A stronger immune system could arguably make you feel worse in the short term.
Its just as easy to find evidence to suggest man flu is a myth: a 2022 study into symptoms of acute rhinosinusitis (an illness that often gives rise to accusations of man flu) showed that although women recovered faster than men, women generally reported worse symptoms at the beginning of the illness.
In the end, there was little overall difference between the sexes in self-reported symptoms, assessed using the 22-question sino-nasal outcome test, otherwise known as SNOT-22. The hypothesis of a man flu should be disregarded, wrote the studys authors.
I think the real difference between the sexes is not about how severe they find the symptoms of a particular illness, but how interesting they find them. No matter how terrible my wife feels, she will generally run out of things to say about a bad cold after two or three days. I, on the other hand, will still have plenty to say on day eight. By day 10, if Im lucky, I will be coming down with something else.
Im not suffering more than my wife, or for longer; Im just suffering more presently. Theres nothing like a bad cold to enhance my normally limited ability to live in the moment, to lie back and think only: ow. People talk about being in touch with their feelings. Is this not what they mean?
It may still be true that men dont often talk about their feelings with each other, but we do talk about our symptoms, frankly and openly. At this time of year, we speak of little else.
Covid robbed us of the satisfactions of man flu for a time. When a virus features a range of symptoms that run from barely perceptible to death, it takes some of the joy out of comparing notes. Future studies may yet show that man flu is only a state of mind, but to me its more that that its a way of life.
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LINCOLN State officials are urging vigilance after a strain of deadly avian flu was discovered in a small backyard flock in Colfax County.
The warning from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture comes amid several confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the nearby states of Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota.
The deadly flu forced the slaughter of nearly 58 million birds last year, according to the Associated Press, though the death toll has been much smaller this year.
The loss of laying hens caused a spike in egg prices, which more than doubled in 2022.
Poultry producers need to continue to be vigilant in protecting their flocks, said State Veterinarian Dr. Roger Dudley in a press release.
He urged good biosecurity measures to help prevent the spread of the disease.
Avian flu spreads easily among birds, according to the Ag Department, through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure. Wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, can spread the virus to domestic flocks, but it can also spread via equipment, and clothing and shoes of caretakers.
Wild birds can carry the virus without becoming sick, the department said. while domesticated birds can become very sick and die. HPAI can survive for weeks in contaminated environments.
Poultry producers can get more information at https://nda.nebraska.gov/animal/avian/index.html which includes an updated map of HPAI cases in Nebraska.
Signs of HPAI or unusual deaths should be reported to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at 402-471-2351 or the USDA at 866-536-7593.
Turkeys at a coop in Tsor'a in central Israel were found to be infected with bird flu, the Agriculture Ministry said Wednesday.
The coop houses 10,500 birds in four buildings. All coops within 10 km of the farm were placed under lockdown. The Agriculture Ministry called on Israelis raising pet birds and backyard poultry to keep the birds inside buildings.
The outbreak is the second reported in the past month and the fifth reported in Israel this season. The Agriculture Ministry said on Thursday that the birds were infected the H5N1 strain of the virus and that 43 birds had died.
Earlier this month, a case of H5N1 avian influenza was found in a marbled teal in the central Israeli city of Yehud.
The first outbreak of the season was reported in September at a petting zoo including over 200 peacocks, geese, ducks, guinea fowls, chickens, doves, and parakeets in Sde Ya'akov in northern Israel.
Between that outbreak and the latest outbreak, two additional outbreaks were reported, including an outbreak at a chicken coop containing 20,000 birds at Allonim in northern Israel, not far from Sde Yaakov. The second outbreak was reported on October 10, when a black stork was found to be infected at Ein HaMifratz between Haifa and Acre.
Since 2021, Europe, the Americas, and several other locations around the world have been suffering from a nearly continuous outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza which has been described as "the largest-ever" outbreak on the three continents. The virus has affected tens of millions of birds and thousands of mammals across the world.
Two weeks ago, the Wageningen Bioveterinary Research Institute at Wageningen University reported that a new variant of the H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza had been spotted in the Netherlands.
The variant was spotted in Renswoude in the central Netherlands. It is similar to other versions of the H5N1 subtype that has been spreading in Europe and the Americas since 2021, but includes a new version of the PB1 gene segment in the virus. The new PB1 segment seems to be the result of the virus mixing with a low pathogenic version of avian influenza, according to the research institute.
The new variant has also been spotted in several dead wild ducks and geese found in the Netherlands since November. It is unclear as of yet if the reassortment of the PB1 segment has changed any properties of the virus, such as pathogenicity, transmissibility, severity, etc.
China's mysterious pneumonia has led to surge in hospitalisation cases across the country with children experiencing fever and lung damage, but without the classic symptoms of pneumonia such as breathlessness, coughing among others. Close on the heels of this, a similar outbreak is now being reported in Ohio, US where a large number of children are being hospitalised with mysterious pneumonia. (Also read | What is White Lung Syndrome? Mysterious pneumonia fast striking children)
Ohio officials believe it isn't a novel respiratory ailment and are looking into the cause of the spike in infections. Experts feel this could be a result of multiple common viruses striking at the same time.
A rise in respiratory illnesses has been observed in children in the recent days and experts say that several factors from allergens, lifestyle changes to spread of viruses like RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) and influenza could be behind the surge.
"Several factors contribute to the rising prevalence of respiratory diseases in children. Environmental factors like air pollution, exposure to tobacco smoke, and indoor allergens can increase the risk of respiratory illnesses. Lifestyle changes, such as decreased physical activity and increased screen time, might also weaken children's immune systems. Moreover, the spread of viruses like RSV and influenza can lead to respiratory infections, especially in settings like schools or daycare centers where children gather closely. Changes in climate patterns may also play a role in altering the prevalence and spread of respiratory illnesses," says Dr Ravi Shekhar Jha, Director & HOD, Pulmonology, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad.
Dr Satish, Consultant Pulmonology, CARE Hospitals, Hitech City, Hyderabad shares common symptoms of respiratory diseases in children.
Dr Satish says respiratory illness could affect children due to viral infections, air pollution, sedentary lifestyle among other factors.
Dr Satish also sheds light on the common respiratory diseases that parents must be aware of to safeguard their children's health.
Dr Ravi Shekhar Jha shares tips to prevent pneumonia and other respiratory issues in children amid spike in infections.
1. Vaccinations: Ensure that children receive recommended vaccinations, including flu shots, pneumococcal vaccines, and any future vaccines developed for respiratory viruses like RSV.
2. Hygiene: Encourage regular handwashing, especially before meals and after coughing or sneezing. Teach children proper respiratory etiquette, like covering their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
3. Reduce exposure: Minimize exposure to tobacco smoke, air pollution, and indoor allergens like dust mites or pet dander.
4. Healthy lifestyle: Promote a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep to strengthen the immune system.
5. Avoid close contact: Encourage avoiding close contact with sick individuals, especially during peak seasons for respiratory illnesses.
6. Clean environment: Keep living spaces clean and well-ventilated to reduce the spread of viruses and bacteria.
7. Stay informed: Stay updated with health advisories and guidelines from healthcare professionals or public health authorities for specific preventive measures against prevalent respiratory illnesses.
Another massive flock of egg-laying hens in Iowa was recently found to be infected by a very transmissible and deadly version of avian flu, which has pushed the total number of affected birds this fall beyond last years casualties for the same time period.
The recent detection of avian influenza was in a flock of about 1.6 million birds in Sioux County, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Humans are seldom infected by the virus, but it can spread quickly in domestic flocks and is lethal to the birds. Entire flocks are culled to prevent the virus from spreading.
That incident more than doubled the total affected Iowa birds since mid-October. Infected sites now total 15 ranging from backyard flocks to immense commercial chicken operations with nearly 3 million birds.
So far, that is more than triple the rate of detections in October, November and December of last year in Iowa, which affected about 2.5 million birds. The final virus confirmation last year happened Dec. 12.
The death toll is largely driven by the type of facility that is infected. Iowa is the nations leading egg producer, and those chicken flocks can number in the millions. Commercial turkey flocks often have tens of thousands of birds. The smallest flock affected this fall a backyard group of different species had 23.
The virus is often transmitted to domestic flocks by wild, migrating birds that can be asymptomatic.
While the infections in Iowa this fall have been worse than last year, the state largely escaped infections during the spring migration, which was devastating last year. The total number of affected birds in 2022 in Iowa was about 16 million.
That led to the states lowest annual egg production in more than a decade, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Iowa produced about 12.2 billion eggs in 2022. That was down from 15 billion the year before and from a high of 17 billion in 2019.
Iowas second-lowest production total in recent years was in 2015, when there was also a widespread avian flu outbreak. That year the state produced 12.7 billion eggs.
This year, production has rebounded but will be short of 2021, before the latest outbreaks. Through October, Iowa has produced about 11.4 billion eggs this year and has averaged more than a billion each month, according to USDA data.
The other virus detections in Iowa this fall include:
Nov. 15: A mixed-species backyard flock in Benton County with about 86 birds. Nov. 13: A game bird hatchery inKossuth Countywith about13,000pheasants, quail and chukars. Nov. 13: A mixed-species backyard flock inCerro Gordo Countywith about75birds. Nov. 10: A commercial egg-laying facility inTaylor Countywith about1.2 millionchickens. Nov. 10: A backyard mixed species flock inJones Countywith23birds. Nov. 7: A game bird farm inKossuth Countywith about8,576pheasants, peafowl and chickens. Nov. 3: A commercial chicken breeding facility inHamilton Countywith about15,000birds. Nov. 3: A duck farm with a backyard mixed species flock inClay Countywith about7,361birds. Nov. 3: A duck farm inClay Countywith about8,270birds. Nov. 3: A duck farm inClay Countywith about1,700birds. Oct. 31: A commercial turkey flock inBuena Vista Countywith about30,000birds. Oct. 23: A commercial turkey flock inPocahontas Countywith about47,500birds. Oct. 23: A backyard flock inGuthrie Countywith about50birds. Oct. 20: A commercial turkey flock inBuena Vista Countywith about50,000birds.
Editors note: This article was updated to clarify a comparison of the rate of detections this fall compared with last year.
Flu season brings another (and maybe not as expected) threat: pink eye. That's because viruses that cause the flu, the common cold and even COVID-19 can manifest in the eyes. In addition to giving your eyes a pinkish or reddish hue,conjunctivitis(the technical term for pink eye) can cause other symptoms, like irritation, itchiness and discharge.
"When you have a viral infection, that can lead to eye-related symptoms, especially if you touch the eye or you're around someone that has it and they're coughing or sneezing," said Dr. Jennifer Tsai, an optometrist practicing in New York City. Pink eye can result from a virus spreading from your own mucus membranes that are currently under attack, or through exposure to someone with a respiratory infection.
Here are the types of eye infections to look out for this flu season, what to do for home relief, and when to see a doctor.
Read more: Your Eye Doctor May See Signs of Heart Disease. Here's Why
When caused by a virus, pink eye will typically resolve by itself within a couple of weeks. If you have a bacterial infection, you may be prescribed antibiotic eye drops.
The most familiar seasonal viruses (the common cold, the flu and now COVID-19) can all cause viral pink eye. Some research from 2021, for example, found that as many as one in 10 people with COVID-19 experienced eye symptoms, although the American Academy of Ophthalmology says conjunctivitis from coronavirus is much more common in children than it is in adults.
Tsai says that the most common cause of viral pink eye is infection with the adenovirus, a virus that causes mild cold or flu symptoms in most people, which also spreads more widely during flu/respiratory virus season. Lesser-known viral culprits of pink eye also include the herpes simplex virus, the virus that causes cold sores, Tsai said. This can spread if virus from a cold soretouches the eye, or it can reoccur in outbreaks.
Read more: 6 Eye Problems That Become More Common as We Age
In order to find the right relief for pink eye and learn if you'll need medical treatment, you need to find the root cause of your pink eye: is it bacterial or viral?
Viral pink eye symptoms, according to Tsai, commonly include an itching feeling in the eye, along with watery discharge. Other symptoms can include redness or burning.
Viral pink eye will also likely be present in both eyes; it may start in one eye but will quickly spread to the other, she says.
Bacterial pink eye is caused by an infection or injury to the eye, Tsai says, including infection from contact lenses. If you have bacterial pink eye, it's more likely you'll experience a thick, yellowish, or sticky discharge from your eye along with more eye pain and blurry vision. (The AAO notes that bacterial conjunctivitis doesn't always cause discharge.) A big clue that you're suffering from bacterial pink eye, according to Tsai, is that it's in one eye, though both eyes can be infected.
While pink eye from a viral infection can be managed at home in most cases (more on that below), and milder bacterial pink eye cases will also typically clear up, it's important to see a doctor as soon as possible if you have eye pain, vision problems or other symptoms of a severe eye infection. Your treatment, or whether you can relieve pink eye at home, will also depend on the type of eye infection you have.
It's a good idea to avoid eye makeup and contact lenses while you have pink eye.
Most cases of viral pink eye are "self limiting," Tsai said, which means they'll probably resolve on their own within two weeks. But if you have bacterial infection, you'll likely be prescribed antibiotic eye drops to help kill the bacteria that's causing your symptoms.
Tsai said that no matter the cause or severity of your pink eye, it's a good idea to see an eye doctor just in case. If you have symptoms that affect or blur your vision, cause eye pain, light sensitivity or a feeling that something is stuck in your eye, get seen as soon as possible.
Because most pink eye cases caused by a virus will resolve at home, managing pink eye will be based on easing your itchy or irritating symptoms. Here are some tips from Tsai:
In acknowledgement of the eye drop recalls and safety concerns surrounding some brands of artificial tears, Tsai said to continue to avoiding drops that don't meet safety standards. She also advises people avoid Visine and Clear Eyes drops, because they contain ingredients that can constrict blood vessels in your eyes. For eye drop recommendations based on specific needs, you can read this CNETlist of eye drops.
To avoid spreading pink eye, follow these tips from the American Optometric Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology:
PESHAWAR: The health department has issued guidelines to hospitals for management of influenza-like illness, which has infected more than 130,000 people during the past six months in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to a report, compiled by health departments Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System, public sector health facilities of the province recorded 130,284 patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) from May to October 2023.
An official told this scribe that health department received guidelines from National Institute of Health Islamabad and circulated the same among all districts of the province to prevent spread of contagious disease. He said that with the onset of winter season, people stood exposed to flu and required protection.
An advisory has been circulated for prevention and control of seasonal influenza, the uptick in which appears every year with varying level of its spread, timing, severity and length of the season, due to which we are monitoring the situation in all hospitals, Dr Irshad Ali Roghani, the director of public health at director-general health services, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, told Dawn.
Health dept issues guidelines for management of patients
He said that cases of seasonal influenza soared in December till February every year and more hospitalisations of patients with flu-associated issues were recorded. We have also allocated isolation beds for patients at the hospitals to contain the virus, he added.
Dr Irshad said that people having close contacts with patients, or had been in close contact with persons having ILI, should be go for frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water besides covering mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing. He also advised such people to take rest and avoid crowds.
He said that 28,402 people were affected by ILI in May and 19,520 in October in the province.
Dr Irshad said that Peshawar reported 3,230 patients, Upper Kurram 2,198, Swabi 1,974, Mansehra 1877, Haripur 1,836 and Battagram 1,476 while Malakand reported 1,177 cases.
According to the advisory, health facilities should stay alert for timely preventive and control measures as the seasonal influenza virus can cause mild to severe illness, particularly among high-risk individuals. The virus spreads from person to person through sneezing and coughing or touching contaminated surfaces.
The disease is self-limiting but can cause deaths in people of all ages, therefore, treatment is mainly supportive and guidelines have been issued to all district health officers and medical superintendents of hospitals for management of hospitalised patients, said Dr Irshad.
As per the recommendations of World Health Organisation, pregnant women, children from six to 59 months, elderly people and individuals with chronic medical conditions including chronic cardiac, pulmonary, renal, liver and other diseases should get vaccination for protection against seasonal influenza.
Samples from suspected patients should be sent to laboratory at 40C within four days with complete epidemiological data given to Public Health Reference Lab (PHRL) at Khyber Medical University to diagnose cases and take appropriate steps.
Dr Irshad said that PHRL, established by health department, was conducting tests for influenza free of cost. The laboratory, set up in collaboration with NIH and KMU, conducts all tests for notifiable diseases. It has enabled the province to cope with the public health issues.
These tests were previously sent to NIH but now these are conducted in KMU and the results are made available in short period of time. It helps in prevention of outbreaks of diseases, he said.
He said that National Institute of Health Islamabad wanted standardised surveillance across Pakistan to ensure that ILI, an acute respiratory infection with fever of over 38C (100.4F) temperature associated with cough, could stay under control and infected people were hospitalised.
Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2023
HEALTH bosses have "urgently" warned people to get vaccinated against flu and Covid amid concern over an expected "imminent rise" in winter viruses.
Influenza, known as the flu, has seen a rise in cases over the last number of weeks and the HSPC has admitted they are concerned about cases skyrocketing over the winter.
New figures for last week show the infection is circulating in the community - with anyone unwell asked to stay at home.
Last week it was confirmed that 64 cases of the flu were reported in Ireland with 17 people hospitalised since last week.
There were 66 cases of the flu last week, which is a sudden jump from the 36 cases reported the week before.
The HSPC said: "There is a concern that the uptake of the vaccines so far remains low, and that this may have a serious impact on public health in the coming weeks and months.
"There is no room for complacency at this point.
"Hospitals are already feeling pressure from a significant level of RSV, particularly our paediatric services."
They confirmed that they expect cases of the flu to peak either next month or during January.
They explained: "The winter in the southern hemisphere saw very high levels of flu, and this adds to the concern about our own winter.
"We are already seeing early signs that flu levels are rising and we expect it to be reaching its peak from mid-December and into January.
"COVID-19 levels are currently stable but we are seeing people seriously ill with COVID-19, including in our ICUs now, and around half of those have not received boosters in the last six months."
The HSE is urging everyone who is eligible, including older people, carers and vulnerable groups, to book their appointments for both the flu and COVID vaccines.
The health bosses said "all projections" are pointing towards a "multi pathogenic winter" as we move into the rise of flu and Covid season.
They added: "A significant rise in respiratory illnesses over the coming weeks is expected."
Flu is an infection caused by a virus that infects your lungs and upper airways. It will often get better on its own but can make some people "seriously ill".
Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:
The symptoms of flu are similar for children but they can also get a pain in their ear and seem to be less active.
Cold and flu symptoms are similar, but flu tends to be more severe.
A cold will appear gradually but flu symptoms appear quickly "within a few hours," the HSE confirmed.
And although a cold will affect your nose and throat and make you feel unwell but you can carry on as normal, the flu will affect more than just your nose and throat and make you feel exhausted and too unwell to carry on as normal.
Flu and COVID-19 can be very similar and it could be coronavirus if you have a high temperature, a new and continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
Flu is very infectious and easily spread to other people. You're more likely to give it to others in the first five days.
The flu virus spreads through coughs and sneezes and it can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.
To reduce the risk of spreading flu wash your hands often with warm water and soap, use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze and bin used tissues as quickly as possible.
People across Wales are being hit by a wave of winter lurgies with one describing feeling like "someone poured Ready Brek into the back of my face".
The latest surveillance data from Public Health Wales suggests four different influenza viruses are circulating in Wales alongside seasonal cold infections and other viruses.
In the most recent weeks, there were ten cases of influenza A(H3N2), 16 cases of the 2009 swine flu variant of influenza A(H1N1), 33 cases of an untyped variant of influenza A and 25 cases of influenza B. The A(H1N1)pdm09 virus circulating is commonly called swine flu and caused the wave of infections in 2009.
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The figures from Public Health Wales show a growing number of people are going to their GP reporting flu-like symptoms, up from 3.6 consultations for every 100k people the previous week to 3.8. The public health body says this remains stable and within the expected range for this time of year.
There are also high rates of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) virus in children, which causes cold-like symptoms including coughing, sneezing, runny nose and sometimes fever. Other viruses circulating include rhinovirus and Covid.
There were 134 surveillance samples from patients collected by GPs and community pharmacies in the most recent week. Of the 134 samples, 28 tested positive for rhinovirus, 14 for RSV, eight for mycoplasma, seven for SARS-CoV2, six for enterovirus, five for hMPV, two for adenovirus, one for bocavirus, one for influenza A(H3), one for influenza B..
People across the UK have been experiencing a "brutal" cold that feels like a flu and can last for weeks. Some people across the country are reporting symptoms of fever, headaches, blocked noses, coughs, and fatigue. For the latest health and Covid news, sign up to our newsletter here.
Many have taken to social media to share their symptoms and experiences. One person took to Reddit and wrote: "Just coming off the back end of a brutal cold that's lasted about three weeks, during which my sinuses have been almost completely closed, relaxing only for brief periods while also producing mucus at an alarming rate."
They added: "Emerging from my bed this morning, I could breathe through my nose again. I could smell things. It still feels like somebody poured Ready Brek into the back of my face, but it's finally over and life is beautiful again."
Another one replied with: "Currently on day 5 of it. Feel absolutely lousy. So much mucus it's ridiculous. Already feeling anxious about having to call in sick again tomorrow but I refuse to go back to work until I'm well enough. Won't get thanked for going in and certainly won't get thanked by colleagues if I spread this around. Just hoping I'm all clear for Christmas. Get well soon everyone."
Others took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to talk about their illness. One posted: "Its getting harder to get out of bed but needs must. Still got the dreaded lurgy so not feeling 100%. Another added: How it started vs how it is going. I had my combined Covid/ flu vaccine yesterday and already had a touch of the lurgy. Now I have full blown girl flu and feel dreadful."
According to the NHS, such colds include symptoms such as a cough, where you may bring up mucus (also known as phelgm), sneezing, a stuffy or runny nose, a sore throat, headaches, muscle aches, breathlessness, a tight chest or wheezing, high temperature and feeling generally unwell.
Here's everything you need to know to help you if you're currently experiencing a cold:
A pharmacist can suggest treatments to help relieve your symptoms, such as decongestants and nasal sprays. The NHS says people can also buy cough medicines and throat lozenges, "although theres little evidence to show they help" they've added.
The NHS recommends that you:
Whatever you do, you must not:
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Former President Donald Trump often seems proud to advertise his administrations record on speedily developing covid-19 vaccines.
On the campaign trail to win another term in the White House, though, he also has knocked the use of those very vaccines. In October, for example, he unleashed a barrage of social media attacks on Ron DeSantis pandemic record by reposting claims that the Florida governor who is running against him in the Republican presidential primaries was too active in vaccinating Sunshine State residents.
In a further twist, Trump simultaneously circulated an MSNBC article suggesting DeSantis wasnt vaccinating his constituents enough.
Trumps tap dance touting Operation Warp Speeds success at developing vaccines while criticizing vaccine use is emblematic of how pandemic politics are intensifying broader vaccine politics. Republican presidential candidates currently trailing the former president in polls are contorting their messaging to court the partys vaccine-skeptical voters. No one embraces, without qualification, the utility of a public health measure that has saved millions of lives.
Like Trump, even the more establishment candidates cant seem to avoid embracing the anti-vaccine leanings of the partys base. Take Nikki Haley, who formerly served as governor of South Carolina and ambassador to the United Nations and has been rising in the polls. In the waning days of the Trump administration, she was pro-vaccine. But by the end of November 2021, in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, she repeated dubious anti-vaccine claims: for instance, that the vaccine could undermine a womans fertility. (Studies consistently show no effect.)
The GOP has gained the allegiance of a minority of people who feel very strongly about the safety of vaccines, Robert Blendon, a Harvard professor of public health, told KFF Health News. Presidential candidates are trying to use this sensibility as a cultural issue to signal distrust in scientists, other experts, and government authority in general, he said.
The resulting dynamic carries the risk of reaching beyond the current election cycle to affect public health policy in years to come, leading to lower rates among schoolchildren and seniors of vaccinations that protect them from measles, shingles, and HPV. Even as candidates try to weaponize this rhetoric, theyve had little luck in changing the former presidents front-runner status.
A recent KFF survey of adults about their plans to get vaccinated against the flu, respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV, and covid found that partisanship remains a key predictor of how people view vaccines. Confidence in the safety of the updated covid vaccines split sharply along party lines, with more than 8 in 10 Democrats saying they trust the new shots, compared with 1 in 3 Republicans.
But unease about covid or the vaccines is not Republican primary voters top issue Blendon said concerns around the border, crime, and inflation are and its not clear vaccine-focused attacks hurt Trump.
I didnt like his response to covid, says an Iowa business owner featured in a critical ad from a well-funded political action committee that questioned Trumps handling of the pandemic. I thought he probably got led a little bit by the bureaucrats, he says, hitting Trump on his bragging about the development of the vaccine and contrasting Trump unfavorably with certain governors the man in the ad thought performed better against covid. (Images of DeSantis, otherwise unnamed, flash by.)
The result? The ad produced a backlash and, when audience-tested with focus groups, improved the former presidents support, according to a memo summarizing the political action committees attempts to dent the front-runner.
Candidates nonetheless are trying to make hay, acknowledged Joe Grogan, who led the Domestic Policy Council during the Trump administration. But I think people have a lot of other targets for ire about the pandemic.
Trump is not at the top of the list for Republican primary voters, Grogan said. Hes not on Page 2. Or 3, or 4. It begins with the media, the public health bureaucracy, or Big Tech companies.
Voters have strong, yet divided and sometimes inconsistent, opinions. Some, like Joshua Sharff, 48, of Chesapeake, Virginia, are opposed to the covid vaccines and to candidates who support the shots as safe and effective. Sharff describes himself as a conservative voter who intends to support the Republican nominee for president. Though hes vaccinated, he said, If youre a governor or a president and you tell me that I have to take a vaccine that has not been tried, that has not been tested, and ignores the science, thats a problem for me. Youre taking away my freedoms as an American citizen.
These positions have led Sharff away from Trump and toward DeSantis, who has promoted anti-vaccine and anti-public health positions in his quest for the nomination.
Trump pushed the vaccine very hard and recently came out, when he began to get pushback on it, that it was somebody elses fault, Sharff said. Thats not true.
Other Republican voters said the vaccine is not key to their vote.
It will not sway my vote one way or another, said Kimberly Hunt, 59, of Melville, Tennessee.
In chasing these voters, some candidates are distancing themselves from initial, pro-vaccine positions to embrace outspoken views against the shot. Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur, started out as a vaccine cheerleader. But then he flipped, coming out against vaccine mandates and saying this summer that he regretted getting vaccinated. (His wife, a doctor, said she had no regrets.)
The most vocal of all is DeSantis.
Appearing on the right-leaning PBD Podcast on Oct. 30, DeSantis attacked Trump and the corrupt medical swamp in D.C. for overselling a vaccine that, despite the initial federal guidance, could not prevent infection or transmission of covid. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the vaccine for anyone 6 months and older to protect against serious illness.
Though he initially encouraged people to get vaccinated in early 2021, DeSantis pivoted months later, banning vaccine passports for businesses and government entities, and later approving legislation prohibiting vaccine mandates in the state. That fall, he also appointed a new Florida surgeon general, physician Joseph Ladapo, whose guidance on covid vaccines contradicts CDC recommendations. DeSantis formed a Public Health Integrity Committee to assess, and generally dispute, federal health recommendations.
When the CDC released new vaccine guidance in September, Florida responded with its own advisory casting doubt on the safety of the boosters.
This anti-vaccine positioning hasnt helped DeSantis. He has been losing support nationally and is generally polling third behind Haley and Trump in New Hampshire, a key early primary state. He headlined a medical freedom town hall in Manchester on Nov. 1 with Ladapo as a special guest.
Among the candidates remaining, DeSantis may be the most famous convert to the politics of anti-vaccination, but, with this subject, Haley has more experience.
In the 2021 CBN interview, she said mandates are not what America does. But the forceful declaration is merely the end of an ambivalent record, and, for critics, demonstrates her willingness to get in sync with the demands of the GOP base. As a state legislator, she supported 2007 legislation that included a mandate for HPV vaccines before voting against it; and later, as governor, she vetoed an effort to promote those vaccinations.
Bakari Sellers now a commentator on CNN, but at the time a lawmaker who spearheaded that bill told KFF Health News, Thats the biggest Nikki Haley issue that there is: She kind of has her finger in the air.
The issue of vaccines may affect the general election: Even as Trump defends his vaccine record, its nevertheless clear he has support from the anti-vaccine crowd. An analysis by Politico, for example, found overlap among donors to independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is staunchly opposed to vaccines, and Trump.
The willingness among politicians to assail whats traditionally looked on as a foundational achievement of public health is likely to lead to turbulence for doctors themselves. Allison Ferris, a primary care physician and an associate professor at Florida Atlantic University, said people should be listening to their doctors and not to presidential candidates about whether to take the new covid vaccines. But that message is hard to deliver in the current climate.
It is a tricky position to be in, said Ferris, who co-authored recently released guidance advising doctors to counsel patients that frequent covid vaccination will likely become a necessity.
