The vaccine doses recommended for children can end up in the trash. If more people are not vaccinated, it could lead to many hospitalizations, says the Norwegian Directorate of Health.
Just under six percent of children with underlying risk conditions have been vaccinated against the flu, according to FHI extension.
This is the lowest coverage among the recommended vaccination groups. By comparison, more than half of those over 65 have been vaccinated.
– The reason we recommend the vaccine is to prevent a more serious course of the flu. With low immunization coverage among children, there may be more children needing hospital care, says FHI senior physician and section chief Are Stuwitz Berg.
Expiration date
“We have worked hard to educate about the possibility of the Fluenz Tetra nasal spray vaccine as a good alternative for most children with an underlying risk, but very little has been ordered by municipalities and other places where the vaccination is administered, he says Berg.
There are about 25,000 doses left in stock of Fluenz Tetra, FHI informs VG. If more people don’t order it, FHI fears vaccine doses will end up in the trash.
– This vaccine expires in January, so if it has to be used, it is urgent to order it, says Berg and adds:
– We encourage municipalities and others vaccinating in the program to order this vaccine so we have an alternative to the injection for children and parents who prefer it.
According to FHI, only 183 recipients in 148 municipalities ordered the vaccine.
– Why are so few people ordering it?
– We don’t know for sure, but we’ve received feedback from some municipalities who haven’t ordered because they think it’s easier to use the vaccine by injection and they feel more confident administering it correctly, says Berg.
Another reason, Berg says, is that it’s only available in packs of 10 and the municipality can’t use all the doses, which means a financial loss.
A third reason is that municipalities have not received information that the vaccine now costs as much as the other vaccine for at-risk groups, Berg says.
– Can lead to many admissions
Even the Directorate of Health is concerned that vaccine doses will have to be thrown away, and that few children will be vaccinated.
– Low vaccination rates among children with underlying risk conditions can lead to many hospital admissions, says division director Johan Torgersen of the Directorate of Health.
– First, we are concerned that children with underlying diseases will become seriously ill. If a lot of people get sick at the same time, it will go beyond capacity, which is obviously a shame, he adds.
Last week, FHI’s Preben Aavitsland said that flu season will begin in earnest in the coming weeks.
Berg says the infection is rapidly increasing now.
– Flu infection is on the rise now, and it takes a couple of weeks for a vaccine to work, so it’s urgent to get vaccinated now before the infection is likely at its peak, says Berg.
FHI already has announced that three epidemics can strike at the same time at Christmas: flu, RS virus and corona.
And this year the same swine flu (H1N1) has returned.
– The overall burden on the health service can be high. Hospitals and municipalities need to be prepared for more illness, more sick leave, more hospitalizations and more outbreaks in nursing homes and hospitals, Aavitsland previously told VG.
