Who should be vaccinated against flu (Influenza) vaccination?

For vaccination recommendations in Germany, the German Standing vaccination Committee (Stiko) is responsible. The expert panel recommends the flu vaccination for risk groups. These include

In addition, people should get a flu shot, which could infect a contagion of a person or persons from the above-mentioned at-risk groups – for example, because they live in the same household or carer in an old people’s home work. Also for medical personnel, the vaccination is generally recommended because the likelihood is high that you come up with the virus in contact, and themselves be infected.

The cost for the flu vaccination?

Yes. The statutory health insurance funds assume the costs for all the Insured persons should be vaccinated according to the Stiko. Similar costs acquisition provisions also apply to the Insured person for private.

Individual funds pay the cost for patients who do not belong to any risk group. Whether the costs are assumed in the individual case, for the respective funds for details. Some companies pay or offer the vaccine free for their employees, even if they do not belong to any risk group.

Why should the elderly against the flu vaccinate?

A flu is the elderly more often than in younger Patients. There are complications, such as pneumonia, heart attack, threaten and even death.

The increased risk is also reflected in the Figures: In the flu season 2017/2018 1674 people in Germany died from the effects of a flu. 87 percent of the deaths occurred in the age group 60 years (1460 deaths).

Is it true that the flu vaccine works in the elderly less?

Yes, that’s true. The vaccination acts in older people are less reliable, since the immune response in the age group to be weaker. “However, older people can halve their risk of developing Influenza, in the middle by the vaccine in about,” writes the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). “In addition, it was shown in numerous studies that an influenza disease develops in vaccinated people are milder, with fewer complications than Unvaccinated.”

Can I become ill despite vaccination, flu?

Yes, quite. No vaccination offers one hundred percent protection. How effective is the Influenza vaccine is primarily depends on its composition, which is updated annually. Two scenarios show the effectiveness of the vaccine to reduce:

“Even if the effectiveness of the influenza vaccination is not optimal, can be prevented due to the frequency of Influenza, but many cases of the disease,” writes the Robert Koch Institute. The virus match the strains in the vaccine, however, largely in line with the circulating virus could be observed in young adults, a protective effect of up to 80 percent.

Can I get sick from the vaccine itself to a flu?

No, it is – at least in the case of the Inactivated vaccine, usually injected. It contains no viable pathogens, and so cannot cause flu illness.

It is different in the case of the live vaccine, which is intended for children and young people, and in the nose is sprayed. “It is a very low risk of Transmission of vaccine virus to severely immunocompromised persons. Your doctor will discuss this with you,” writes the Federal centre for health education (BZgA).

I never belonged to any risk group. Do I still need a vaccination?

It is recommended that the flu vaccination only to risk groups. This does not mean, however, that all other people this is not recommended. In healthy children and adults under 60 years of age a disease is usually without serious complications.

When is the right time for a vaccination?

The best time for vaccination is in the autumn months of October and November. In the connection it will take about 10 to 14 days until the Vaccine is fully developed. Usually, the flu wave in Germany will begin after the new year. Who has forgotten the vaccination, she can theoretically, but also in the current flu season to catch up on.

Which vaccine is to be administered in the flu season 2019/2020?

The world health organization (WHO) issues recommendations for the composition of the respective vaccines. The Four-way vaccine for the coming season contains the antigens of the following four influenza viruses:

The two Influenza B Virus strains remain the same as 2018/2019:

The Three-way vaccine contains the antigens for a Virus of the B-line: the Victoria line. In practice, this vaccine, however, is hardly relevant. The Standing Committee on vaccination (Stiko) recommends that since the beginning of 2018, Four vaccines for the vaccination against flu.

What side effects may occur after vaccination?

“The seasonal influenza vaccine is usually well tolerated,” writes the Robert Koch Institute. At the site of injection, it may lead to local reactions: the skin reddens, swells or hurts easily.

Occasionally, patients report after the vaccination, symptoms such as a cold. You have a fever, chills or sweating, are tired, or complain of headaches and body pain. “In General, these symptoms disappear within one to two days without consequences again”, says the RKI-page.

A cold is caused by cold no. Viruses trigger a cold or the flu. But: “When the body fights a the beginning of the end of the infection and freezes, this can be the famous icing on the cake,” says Martin Scherer, Director of the Institute for General medicine at the University hospital in Hamburg-Eppendorf. There is also the Hypothesis that the nasopharyngeal mucous membrane in the cold, more vulnerable to virus infections, but it is not scientifically proven.

What distinguishes flu from a flu?

A cold is colloquially called “flu infection” refers to. The “infection” is in turn often confused with a true “flu”. Influenza and the common cold are two completely different diseases.

The real viral flu is caused by influenza viruses. The symptoms usually occurs suddenly. Ill complain about an extreme feeling of illness with fever, chills, body aches, and fatigue. Influenza affects the entire body not just the respiratory system. At-risk groups, the flu can lead to complications, for example pneumonia. After recovering from the flu, it often takes weeks to come back fully to the legs.

The classic common cold is usually triggered by rhinoviruses, and announces itself, usually over a longer period of time – with a sore throat, scratchy throat, and hoarseness. Later, a cough and a runny nose come. She sounds mostly without consequences.

Who should not be vaccinated against flu?

People with acute infection or febrile illness from 38.5 degrees Celsius body temperature. The vaccination can be rescheduled to a later date. Allergy sufferers, in particular, such a protein with an Allergy to chicken, should inform the doctor before vaccination about your Allergy knowledge. Also, the live vaccine for children and young people should not be in any case administered, for example in Asthma, immune deficiency or under Slicylat therapy.

Sources: “Influenza season report by 2017/2018,” the Association of Influenza / Robert-Koch-Institute (RKI) to influenza vaccination / Federal centre for health education (BZgA) – questions and answers about the flu vaccination

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