Influenza season authorities call for flu shot

Cough, runny nose; Headache and fever: The flu season has reached Germany and the health authorities call not only older, chronically ill but for the first time pregnant women for vaccination. According to Klaus Cichutek, President of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, the current vaccine protects against the three most common types of influenza virus, including swine flu, which will again appear in Germany this year.

(26.09.2010) The flu season has reached Germany and the health authorities call not only older, chronically ill but for the first time pregnant women for vaccination. According to Klaus Cichutek, President of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, the current vaccine protects against the three most common types of influenza virus, including swine flu, which will again appear in Germany this year. Every year, the health authorities advise again to the flu vaccine, but the Germans follow their call so far only hesitantly. Who gets vaccinated, „protects not only against a severe influenza disease, but also avoids infection of others, "emphasizes Reinhard Burger, President of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and warns against underestimating influenza as an infectious disease.Many Germans, however, the vaccinations are critical However, the health authorities are aware that vaccination rates in the population are currently too low and must be increased in order to sustainably prevent major influenza outbreaks 50 to 60 percent, as is the rule in Scandinavian countries, in the opinion of RKI President Burger long term desirable for Germany.

The vaccination recommendation for pregnant women is a consequence of the severe illness that swine flu has taken in the past year in many ill mothers. The Vaccination Commission therefore recommends pregnant women to be vaccinated against influenza from the second trimester of pregnancy onwards. "We have seen that pregnant women are three times as likely to develop severe pneumonia in flu infections than other adults," explains Ole Wichmann from the RKI. In addition, the 10-year vaccination experiences on pregnant women from the US are extremely positive. Side effects were hardly occurred and the vaccine protection also affects the unborn child.

Those who have had swine flu are most likely immune to the H1N1 virus
Those who contracted swine flu last year are likely to be immune to the H1N1 pathogens this year, according to RKI experts. However, there is a relatively high risk of becoming infected with one of the other influenza viruses. However, the influenza vaccine also protect against the currently circulating in the southern hemisphere influenza H3N2 and the influenza B virus. One of the 18 approved vaccines also contains an active enhancer; So that people over the age of 65 can still build an effective vaccine protection. Because „our immune system is aging, "explains Klaus Cichutek and „so that it nevertheless responds well to the flu vaccine, one of the 18 approved influenza vaccines contains an effect-enhancing additive. "

The potentiators were heavily criticized last year in connection with the swine flu vaccine, as they can cause massive side effects. Thus, the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut has not without reason this year made sure that in 17 of 18 preparations no corresponding additives should be included. Of course, the competent health authorities have a natural interest in side effect-free drugs and since vaccinations are usually subject to greater reservations than general medical treatments, special care is required here. Because experts like Peter Wutzler, President of the German Association for the Control of Viral Diseases“fear that the vaccination rates fall below the numbers of the past few years, which can not satisfy anyway. "Wutzler emphasizes:" the influenza is not harmless. We've had 3000 to 5000 deaths every year for 20 years. "

Even small children should be vaccinated
If it comes to the president of the German Association for the fight against viral diseases, even small children should be vaccinated against influenza, with Peter Wutzler goes with this requirement further than the Standing Vaccination Commission. This recommends parents to vaccinate only children with pre-existing conditions against influenza. Wutzler, on the other hand, explains that it is "a fact that one can call children a fire of influenza." and that in kindergartens, day nurseries and schools the viruses are taken up and carried home. "Children should be vaccinated anyway, also to protect the adults from the flu," said Wutzler.

Doctors and medical staff are urged urgently by the health authorities to vaccinate in order to prevent infection of the patients being cared for. According to Birte Kirschbaum of the Federal Center for Health Education (BzgA), the current vaccination rate of 20 to 25 percent is nowhere near enough. "The family doctor is the central personality for the acceptance of a flu vaccine, so we have to get started and convince the doctors of the meaningfulness of a vaccine," emphasized Peter Wutzler. And Ole Wichmann from the RKI adds: "Of course we would like doctors and nursing staff to assume responsibility themselves, so that they do not jeopardize their patients unnecessarily." The BzgA provided all 65,000 physicians with new information materials in order to achieve a higher immunization coverage among the at-risk groups.

Every year millions of people get flu in Germany. For many sufferers, such as those with a weakened immune system, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease or diabetes, the infection is a serious health threat. According to estimates by the Working Group on Influenza at the Robert Koch Institute, around 2.9 million additional visits to the doctor and 5,300 influenza-related hospital admissions were necessary in the previous flu season, with influenza patients being written about 1.5 million times out of work.

Critical votes for vaccination
However, there are also critical voices who do not want to follow a vaccination recommendation without restrictions. So some physicians are involved in the association "Doctors for an Individual Vaccination Decision e.V". Although the doctors of the association are not in principle against preventive vaccinations, however, complain about the undifferentiated discussion in public. After all, vaccines - like all medicines - can lead to serious, unwanted side effects, which in individual cases can also end in lasting damage to the health of those affected. Although such incidents are relatively rare, patients should also be fully informed.

As a preventive, healthy measures taken vaccinations must meet particularly high safety requirements, the association. Therefore, it should be weighed in each individual case, whether the risks of each possible disease in relation to the possible side effects. Therefore, it is of utmost importance, according to the association, that actually healthy people are comprehensively informed about the short-term and long-term effects of vaccines and vaccination measures. The doctors also criticize that pharmaceutical companies provide little information about possible health consequences. For studies on long-term vaccine effects and the sustainability of vaccination programs are still missing almost completely. The swine flu hysteria had shown that even the WHO is interspersed with employees of the pharmaceutical lobby. A vaccination decision should be based on whether the medical benefit actually exceeds the potential risk. This decision should be taken together with the doctor of trust. (Fp, sb)

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