Questions & Answers as of October 10, 2024. Authors: Leslie Melina Schmidt
Image: Radio Bremen
The cold season begins and vaccinations against flu and corona are taking place in many doctor’s practices in the state of Bremen. For whom a vaccination makes sense.
For whom are the flu vaccination and the corona vaccination recommended?
The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) recommends vaccination against the flu and against Corona for all people aged 60 and over and people with special previous illnesses such as diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. But certain groups of people, such as people who work in nursing, should also be vaccinated. Healthy people do not need to be vaccinated against the flu or corona.
What can we expect with the flu epidemic this winter?
As of now, the flu wave this winter will be no worse than in recent years, as Bremen epidemiologist Hajo Zeeb emphasizes. He assumes that the flu epidemic will build up until Christmas. But these are all just estimates and the infection situation is currently still developing.
Should I still get vaccinated now?
Some doctors recommend this as early as October. Others say the end of December. Epidemiologist Hajo Zeeb believes a vaccination in October or early November makes sense. Because after the vaccination you are not immediately protected. The body needs ten to 14 days until it has built up sufficient protection. If you want, you can also get vaccinated against corona and flu at the same time.
How much will Corona concern us this winter and autumn?
Corona will also be here this winter and autumn, it continues to change and form new variants. In addition, according to Hajo Zeeb, Corona will play a significant role in the number of infections. But he assumes that our immune systems can deal well with the virus thanks to previous illnesses and vaccinations. A new corona vaccine was also approved in July that is well adapted to the current virus variant.
This is actually not the very latest version of the very latest version. Because of course there is always vaccine development and production beforehand. But this vaccine that is now available is still very close to the variant currently circulating.
Hajo Zeeb, Bremer Epidemiologe
The closer the vaccine is to the current variant, the better it protects.
How willing is vaccination?
According to Hajo Zeeb, the willingness to vaccinate has not been particularly good in recent years: often not more than half of the people for whom the vaccination is recommended are vaccinated. Vaccinations are offered at general practitioners’ or company doctor’s offices, but you can also get vaccinated at pharmacies.
More on the topic:
Those: outside and inside.
This topic in the program:
Bremen Eins, The Morning, October 10th, 7:40 a.m
