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Photo: CC0
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On behalf of the Ministry of Health, RIVM has purchased more than half a million extra flu vaccines, because it is expected that people will be more interested in the flu shot in the coming winter season.
The deputy program manager of the Flu Prevention program of the RIVM, Monique van Wieren, confirms a message about this from the AD. While the flu shot doesn’t protect against Covid-19, the corona crisis is thought to make people think more about the dangers of infection in general. People may also consider that, with the ever-present risk of corona, they should at least not get the flu now.
A poll at the end of April concluded that some increase in the demand for the flu shot can be expected. According to Van Wieren, however, it is “unpredictable” what the interest will actually be, but the ministry, the health institute itself and the general practitioners in any case do not want to say ‘no’.
Although it was difficult to stock up on additional vaccines due to the high international demand, it was nevertheless successful and RIVM thinks it will come up with the extra stock.
The quantities of flu vaccines to be stocked differ from year to year, depending on what happened in the previous year and what the expectations are for the coming season.
In October and November, about 6 million people receive an invitation from their GP for the annual flu shot. The shot is for people aged 60 and older and for adults and children with certain conditions. Interest has fallen sharply in recent years and has risen again since 2018, says Van Wieren.
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