That's why you should be vaccinated against the flu • NEWS.AT

Every year, when the flu strikes, more people die from the flu than from car crashes. It is particularly prevalent in metropolitan areas such as Vienna, Graz, Linz or the city of Salzburg. When the flu has the season, who can be vaccinated and what should be considered.

Especially in elderly patients, often, it does not stay with the flu. "A good proportion of patients die from complications such as a heart attack or stroke," says Professor Martin Haditsch, specialist in hygiene, microbiology, infectious diseases and tropical medicine at the Leonding Travel Med Center. The risk of influenza infection should not be underestimated. But how do you know if there is an influenza infection or a true flu? Haditsch answers the most important questions about the flu and the flu vaccine.

Influenza or influenza?

A flu-like infection develops, usually accompanied by a cough or cold, usually creeping. Different with the flu. She usually comes out of nowhere. "In the morning, I'm still sitting with my darling at the breakfast table and at noon, I'm in bed with chills," says Haditsch. In a matter of hours, you go from serious illness to severe health up to 41 degrees fever with head, muscle and joint pain. Sore throats, coughs and runny nose usually occur only a few days after the onset of the disease.

When does the flu season?

The epidemic – if it occurs – is proclaimed between December and February. According to the expert, the influenza season seems to have changed somewhat in recent years. "He used to call the Three Kings bring the flu." Even if Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar are dressed door to door, even today, it is rather the end of the holiday season, the return to work between the middle and the end of January, which marks the beginning of the epidemic of influenza as an epidemic phenomenon.

"In the morning, I sit with my darling at the breakfast table and at noon I lie down with chills in bed"

"An influenza pandemic, however, does not respect these rules," says the specialist of hygiene, microbiology, infectiology and tropical medicine. For example, in 2009, when the clbadic flu epidemic failed, the H1N1 / 09 virus – known as swine flu – struck. At that time, the World Health Organization had announced that it would be distributed worldwide in early April. In early June, the alert was raised to the highest alert level. More than a year later, specifically in August 2010, the pandemic phase was declared over.

When should I get vaccinated?

Vaccines have been available in pharmacies since early October. Say: Who wants to be vaccinated can do it now. "It is better to get vaccinated even before the flu season, because it takes about two to three weeks before the vaccine protection is fully implemented," advises Professor Herwig Kollaritsch, President of the Austrian Society of Tropical Medicine, parasitology and migration medicine. More specifically, it would mean late October or early November.

Haditsch adds: If a person whose immune system is intact can be vaccinated as early as early October, it can be badumed that, despite the early stage of vaccination until the end of the flu epidemic, there remains enough antibodies. However, a person whose immune system does not respond as expected to the vaccine probably slips by the end of the season below the limit of protection. When exactly that is, you can only guess. Here, one would have to ask whether protection should rather be granted at the beginning or end of the influenza epidemic.

Who should be vaccinated?

The influenza vaccine is officially recommended, especially for at-risk groups of pregnant women, infants, the elderly and people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, COPD or cardiovascular disease. The 2018 vaccination plan published by the Ministry of Social Affairs indicates that infants, toddlers and people over 65 are particularly at risk of serious sequelae. In this age group, most hospitalizations related to influenza (60%) and even 90% of deaths occur.

"Everyone should get vaccinated"

In addition to the risk groups mentioned, Haditsch should also vaccinate people who are in frequent or close contact with other people, especially those whose immune system is not intact, for professional reasons. Including employees of the health care system or child care. As travelers, who sometimes contribute to the spread of the virus from one continent to another, or people for whom a loss of work would have serious consequences for the organization. Seen in this light, the vaccination recommendation would affect about 80% of the population. In fact, the expert advises: "Everyone should get vaccinated."

At what age can we vaccinate against the flu?

Some vaccines are approved for children over six months, according to the Ministry of Health. For children from the age of two, there is also the variant of a nasal spray vaccine. It is called Fluenz Tetra, a quadruple vaccine that can be used in Austria until the age of 17 years. When acting as a live vaccine, it can only be administered if neither the child nor the people living with it in the household suffer from an immunodeficiency. Otherwise, there is a risk of infection.

How many can be vaccinated each year?

The number of people who should be vaccinated and those who are actually vaccinated is very different. Each year, about eight to ten percent can receive an influenza vaccine. During the last flu epidemic, it was only six to seven percent. "It's a pity," warns Haditsch, according to which the vaccination rate should be increased to more than 50%. One of the reasons why the acceptance of the influenza vaccine is so low is probably due to a relatively low level of efficacy compared to other vaccines.

What is the quality of the flu vaccine?

An influenza vaccine does not guarantee that you will not get sick. By way of comparison: the TBE vaccine protects about 99% of cases, compared to almost 100% against hepatitis A. "That's what the population understands by having a good vaccine," says Haditsch. In contrast, last year's influenza vaccine protection rate was only 23%. There are several reasons for this: On the one hand, the virus that originates from the serum undergoes a series of processes that inevitably lead to its alteration.

On the other hand, the virus used to make the vaccine is also subject to a natural mutation. As a result, until the outbreak of influenza occurs, this has also changed. Thus, the injected virus is only an image of the one that circulates later. If something. Several months before the onset of influenza, the virus or strains to be included in the serum must be determined. "Given all these aspects, a protection rate of about 50% is already considerable."

What should be considered before vaccination?

If you have an acute febrile illness, you should not get vaccinated. "Although the vaccine is not dangerous at this stage, it may not work as well as you want," says Haditsch. So even if the vaccinated suffers from a weakness in defense. But even if the effect may not be the one expected, the expert recommends a vaccine in this case. If you are allergic to chicken protein, it is advisable to administer the vaccine in a hospital setting.

"The list of reasons for not getting vaccinated is very short"

The reason: the vaccine may contain traces of egg white. "Theoretically, an allergic reaction is possible," says the expert. However, the general rule is: "Anyone who can eat eggs can also be vaccinated." In addition, the potential for egg white contamination is so low that the risk of allergic shock is minimal. "The list of reasons for not getting vaccinated is very short," Haditsch concludes. And "no one has to do without the dead vaccine". By the way, this year, the Austrian vaccination group is recommending the quadruple vaccine to children and adults.