Influenza Influenza vaccine can save lives

Health experts explain: Why you should be vaccinated against flu

According to health experts, the annual flu season usually starts in January. Nevertheless, it is recommended that you already be vaccinated against influenza viruses. The flu shot can help save lives.

Protect in time

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the annual flu epidemic in recent years has usually started in January and lasted three to four months. Outside this period, only a few cases are observed. Nevertheless, the experts recommend that they be vaccinated against influenza viruses in order to be protected on time. For the first time in the flu season 2018/2019, insured persons for the first time have a binding claim to a quadruple vaccine against influenza.

It will take a few weeks until the start of the flu season, but health experts are already recommending that they be vaccinated against influenza viruses. The vaccine can save lives. (Image: Adam Gregor / fotolia.com)

Disease can be fatal

A cold is often referred to as a "flu infection", but it has nothing to do with the real flu (influenza).

The two diseases are caused by different pathogens. Flu is triggered by influenza viruses.

Influenza may be accompanied by a sudden onset of illness, fever or a feeling of being sick, accompanied by muscle and / or headache and irritable cough.

"An influenza disease can lead to complications such as pneumonia and even death, especially in the elderly, the chronically ill and pregnant women," the RKI writes.

Influenza increases the risk of heart attack

The vaccination expert of the German Society for Geriatrics (DGG), Dr. med. Andreas Leischker.

"Especially in the elderly and in people with chronic diseases - such as diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD short, or renal insufficiency - can lead to life-threatening complications such as lung failure," said the doctor in a statement.

In addition, the expert points out that influenza significantly increases the risk of a heart attack: "During the first seven days of an influenza illness, the risk of heart attack is increased 17-fold!" Leischker.

"And even one month after the infection, the risk of an infarction is still significantly higher than in people who are not ill." Even strokes occur more frequently according to the expert in the context of influenza.

Protection against infections

In order to protect yourself from a flu infection, it is generally useful to strengthen the body's defenses, to keep away from patients and regularly wash their hands.

Protection also offers the flu shot. This can, according to Dr. Leischker also protect against heart attacks and strokes.

Especially people at risk should be vaccinated. But not all of them do.

For whom a vaccination makes sense

"Many patients still underestimate the health risk of a flu infection and refrain from the annual flu vaccine," said Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn during a visit to the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI), the federal authority for vaccines.

"We should not take the flu lightly, it does not always go well. The best protection against influenza viruses is and remains the vaccine, "said the politician.

But according to experts, no more than 50 percent of people are vaccinated against influenza, for which immunization is recommended.

These include, according to the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO), for example, adults who have chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases or complaints of the kidneys, liver or nervous system.

People with metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, diseases of the immune system or the blood as well as persons with congenital or acquired immunodeficiency or an HIV infection are also included.

In addition, according to STIKO pregnant women from the 2nd trimester, children from six years, women and men over 60 years and residents of retirement and nursing homes should be vaccinated.

The same applies to all those who are exposed to an increased risk of infection, professionally or privately.

Quadruple vaccine

For the upcoming flu season, the STIKO recommends a quadruple vaccine for the first time - with two components each against the A- and B-lines of the influenza virus, since in the past season a surprising number of people contracted a B-line that was not included in the triple vaccine.

"The influenza vaccination at the expense of the statutory health insurance will be done in this vaccination season exclusively with a quadruple vaccine," said the Chairman of the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA), Prof. Josef Hecken, in a statement.

"This applies to defined risk groups and generally to all over-60s. In addition to this compulsory service, health insurances also offer their insured a vaccination as part of the voluntary statutory benefits ", says the expert.

According to the RKI, it will take ten to 14 days after the vaccination to fully develop the vaccine protection.

But it is also important to know: "No vaccine offers 100% protection, so influenza can be the result even after a flu shot," writes the RKI. (Ad)