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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Chris Harper & Kate Lally

People urged to get fourth jab to combat 'flurona'

People in the UK are being urged to get two different types of jabs - one for flu and three for covid in order to reduce the spread of what is being called "flurona".

Flurona refers to when people being infected with both the flu and coronavirus at the same time.

The UK Health and Security Agency has reported more than 160 cases of people being infected with both the flu and coronavirus simultaneously, according to Birmingham Live.

READ MORE: New 'living with covid plan' set to be announced by Boris Johnson

Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist based at Reading University, told MailOnline : "Contracting both viruses simultaneously increases the risk of being seriously ill, but risks can be mitigated by getting vaccinated and boosted against both diseases."

He added: "I would be surprised if the current number of flu and covid co-infections was below a thousand."

The warning comes after health experts advised that there is no immediate need to introduce even a second booster dose, or fourth jab, to the most vulnerable (care home residents and those aged over 80)

The covid booster still provides high levels of protection against severe disease from the Omicron variant among older adults, according to the latest data released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Around three months after receiving a third jab, protection against hospitalisation among those aged 65 and over remains at about 90%, current figures suggest.

With two vaccine doses, protection against severe disease still drops to around 70% after three months and to 50% after six months, the Express reports.

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