The demand for the flu shot among GPs seems to exceed the number of flu vaccines available. Therefore, State Secretary Blokhuis, after advice from the RIVM National Institute for Health and Environment , decided to ask healthy people from 60 to 69 years of age not to accept the invitation for the flu shot. In this way, at least the most vulnerable people can get a flu shot.
People with a medical condition (diabetes, a heart, lung or kidney disease or a reduced resistance) and people from the age of 70 run more health risks when they get the flu. These people now first receive the flu shot. Healthy people aged 60 to 69 can then receive the flu shot if there are flu shots left. That will become clear in December.
The flu shot is an important preventive measure. The RIVM therefore regrets that at the moment not everyone who has been invited and wants an injection can receive it. Of all the people invited to the flu shot, healthy people aged 60 to 69 are at the lowest health risk.
There is a chance that the upcoming flu season will be mild. The measures we are taking together against corona also help reduce the spread of flu. This was already visible in the southern hemisphere, where the flu season has already been.
In the Netherlands, people aged 60 and older and people with a medical condition receive an invitation every year to get the flu shot. That is more than 6 million people. In recent years, about 3 million people got the flu shot.
More than half a million extra vaccines were ordered in this special corona year in the spring. This appeared to be sufficient from a survey among the target group. In practice, it appears that even more people now want a flu shot. To ensure that the most vulnerable can get the flu shot, the target group is now being restricted.
