In a church, in a school or in a gym: vaccinations against the flu take place in various places these days. Usually this just happens at the general practice, but this year everything is different.
“Because of corona, we had to divert it to a sports hall this year,” says Carolien Blom of the Deneer & van Galen GP practice in Dronten. In general practice, they could not guarantee a meter and a half sufficiently.
Giant row
Consequence: ‘gigantic ‘rows on the street, as Omroep Flevoland showed yesterday. The photos on social media confirm this image:
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Relieve hospitals
In this day and age, many more people want a flu shot than usual. For various reasons. If you have had a serious pneumonia due to corona and then also get the flu, or vice versa, this can be a ‘considerable attack’ on your body, according to the RIVM.
A new infection from another virus or bacteria in an already damaged lung can lead to a more serious course. Experts also advise people to get the flu shot to relieve hospitals.
Less flu spread
Incidentally, many experts also assume that the corona measures also affect the flu season. Not cuddling, washing hands more often and distance also seem to have a beneficial effect on the spread of the flu virus. From one Japanese research it appears that the flu virus is struggling this year.
That it would be busy in Dronten was a bit of a hit. They had received a lot of troubled calls. “But we were not allowed to order more than 10 percent above the number we used last year,” says Blom.
Normally half show up
This is how it works: in the Netherlands, a fixed group of people receives an invitation for the flu shot every year. It concerns the elderly and people with a certain condition such as diabetes or asthma. Six million vulnerable people receive such a call. Normally about half show up.
In Dronten they sent 2000 calls. Just like last year, by the way, when only 800 people actually came to get the flu shot. “The turnout is always bad here,” says Blom. This year, the practice therefore only received 880 vaccines, including the 10 percent extra.
Yesterday was D-day. “Everything is finished”, says Blom. The people at the back of the queue, about 150 people, missed the net. These vulnerable are now on the waiting list for the next batch in December. “To be honest, it doesn’t seem like this will be enough. They’re going to see what’s left in the other practices, but I don’t expect much from that.”
In other places, such as in Lansingerland, the vaccines were also out, as a council member tweeted:
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RIVM is working on an inventory
RIVM is still working on an inventory, says spokesperson Jan Brouwer de Koning. “We also get signals that practices still have some left, but it does indeed seem that the demand is higher than the supply.” And so not all the vulnerable who want a flu shot will get one. It is not possible to produce additional vaccines.
“We already knew in June that we would have too little”, says Blom from Dronten. “But yes, you cannot blame the government for this. They had to order before corona was available.”
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Give priority
The National Flu Prevention Program Foundation (SNPG) advises general practitioners to give priority to the people who will benefit most from a vaccination in the event of a shortage. This concerns people with a ‘medical indication and the elderly within the target group, like the over-70s‘.
Healthy youngsters and adults who also want to get a flu shot for a fee are probably out of luck. Obtaining a prescription from the doctor may still work, but the pharmacy will most likely not be able to deliver it, simply because there are not enough vaccines. And then go vulnerable and elderly for.
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