Checking the facts: flu myths – Health Vorarlberg –

High fever, muscle and joint pain and loss of appetite: these are the first symptoms of influenza, which forces many people to go to bed each fall and winter. "The flu vaccine is the most effective prevention," says Peter Kritscher, a doctor at Uniqa. In terms of influenza vaccination, however, countless half-truths and misinformation circulate, reducing the willingness to vaccinate. In Austria, influenza causes around 1,000 deaths a year, which is more expensive than road traffic.

facts check

Influenza vaccines are superfluous because they can be treated with antibiotics.

Influenza is a disease caused by viruses. Antibiotics only help with bacterial infections, but not with influenza and other viral infections.

Influenza is dangerous only for the elderly.

Risk groups to be vaccinated against influenza include people over 60, patients with chronic diseases, pregnant women, people at particular occupational risk, such as people who care for or who take care of them. people at risk. Healthy people with a strong immune system are less likely to get the flu. Nevertheless, the real flu being a burden to the body, the vaccine is generally recommended to all. "Especially when older people and people with chronic diseases live in a household, all family members need to be vaccinated so that the disease can not be pbaded on," said Kritscher. Especially children being responsible for spreading the infection, the children's influenza vaccine is also effective in slowing down or even blocking the spread of the disease. Tip: For children, the vaccine comes in the form of a nasal spray, which facilitates the administration.

You can get sick despite the flu vaccine.

The influenza vaccine administered works only against the predominant types of virus, as influenza viruses constantly change shape. Every year, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) identify the type of influenza virus currently spread, against which vaccines are then deliberately produced. It can take up to nine months. It is therefore possible that influenza viruses currently circulating differ from those against which the new vaccine is effective. The vaccine does not protect against infections as well every year. After vaccination, the body takes about 10 to 14 days to protect enough against the infection. The flu vaccine also does not protect against infections that resemble flu and colds.

Breastfed children do not need to be vaccinated as they receive the antibodies via bad milk.

In fact, since the antibodies are transmitted to the fetus by the blood during pregnancy, it makes sense to update their own vaccination status before becoming pregnant. With bad milk, the baby gets more antibodies. There is talk of so-called nest protection, which only supports the child's immune system in the first few months of life. However, it is not comprehensive enough to protect against certain infections. In addition, the mother can transmit only antibodies against diseases that she has herself undergone or against which she is vaccinated. In addition, vaccination of the mother during pregnancy against influenza and a current vaccination against pertussis (pertussis) are strongly recommended.

Vaccines cause diseases against which one must protect oneself.

The influenza vaccines used in Austria are inactivated and therefore do not trigger influenza. The influenza vaccine is generally well tolerated. "However, after vaccination, fever, nausea, fatigue and swelling or redness at the injection site can usually occur," Kritscher adds.

The arguments in favor of vaccination are just propaganda of the pharmaceutical industry.

The Austrian vaccination plan is reviewed annually by the Federal Ministry of Health in close collaboration with experts from the National Vaccine Council. It is based on the latest scientific findings and provides evidence-based recommendations.