Question & Answer

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Streptococcus A is a bacterial infection that may have no symptoms, or it may cause mild diseases like strep throat (fever and sore throat symptoms). Flu is a viral infection that affects the nose, throat and lungs. Both Streptococcus A and flu can cause similar symptoms like fever, aches and pains and fatigue.
Occasionally Streptococcus A infections cause more severe disease. If the bacteria spread beyond the throat into the bloodstream or other tissues, they are called invasive Streptococcus A infections. Invasive Streptococcus A infections have caused deaths in some cases, especially among children, in Europe over the last few months.
Some people believe the flu vaccine has caused this spike in invasive Streptococcus A infections and the deaths and are saying so on social media.
However, there is no evidence to suggest that the flu vaccine increases the risk of infection and serious illness from streptococcus A infections.
A study has found that getting the flu vaccine may in fact protect you from getting Streptococcus A infections. However, this is only one study and we need much more research to be carried out to prove if this is the case.

Social media opinions and stories are not a reliable basis for claims about the effects of treatments.
Just because one study shows that people who got one treatment did better or worse than people who got something else or didn’t get a treatment at all, it does not mean that is the final answer. More studies that compare the same treatments and a careful summary of all the relevant studies are needed.

Lead Researcher: Dr Marie Tierney, Postdoctoral Researcher, Informed Health Choices-Cancer project, School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Galway
Reviewed by: Prof Declan Devane, School of Nursing and Midwifery, HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network, Evidence Synthesis Ireland & Cochrane Ireland, University of Galway.
Public and Patient advisor: Anne Daly, Public and Patient Involvement in research (PPI) advisor, PPI Ignite, University of Galway.
Journalist Advisor: Dr Claire O’Connell, science communicator and contributor to The Irish Times.

Conflict of Interest Statement:The authors have no financial or other conflicts of interest for this health claim summary.