Pregnant women, people with morbid obesity (a BMI of 40 or higher) and all people with dementia can report to their doctor in October for a flu vaccination. That informs the Ministry of Health to the NOS.
Earlier today, the Health Council recommended that these groups be included in the annual flu vaccination program from now on. The advice is still being studied by outgoing State Secretary Blokhuis, but in anticipation of this it has already been announced that people concerned can report themselves.
According to a spokesperson, the new groups will not be actively invited for a vaccination this year. “But enough has been purchased to also give everyone from the new groups a shot.”
The RIVM, which coordinates the flu vaccination campaign, estimates that the expansion of the target group means that 200,000 to 250,000 people will be added who can receive a shot. 4.8 million vaccinations have been purchased for the coming flu season. With this, 75 percent of the target groups can get a shot. The people who fall under the new target groups have not yet been added to this. The turnout for the flu vaccination last year was 50 percent.
Serious Complications
At the moment, the flu shot is offered every year to the elderly, people with certain conditions and many healthcare workers. For most people, the flu is not serious, but in people in the risk groups, the virus can lead to serious complications or even death.
The vaccination of pregnant women also protects young babies from 0 to 6 months against serious complications of the flu.
Newborns themselves cannot be vaccinated against flu, says the Health Council. But they do run a risk of respiratory problems and hospitalization if they are infected. The Council sees no reason to offer healthy children aged 6 months to 17 years a vaccination against flu, because the disease burden is relatively low among them.
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