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9 percent of Czechs have an important vaccine for the season with covid-19

Influenza vaccination is omitted by most Czechs every year. Despite European recommendations to increase vaccination coverage for at-risk groups to 75 percent, the Czechia reaches 17 percent. In the general population, even only 7.5 percent.

Even this year’s fears of a concurrence of the flu epidemic and covid-19 disease will not raise tens of percent vaccination against influenza in the Czech Republic – the efforts run into the reality of previous years. There was no interest, so the usual quantity was ordered for this year as well, which eventually increased by 25 percent after negotiations with the manufacturers.

The Czechia now has 870,000 doses of influenza vaccine and the question is whether it will reach at least those interested in risk groups.

“I asked the doctor in advance when my grandmother could come for vaccination. Her reaction surprised me, saying that it was not at all certain that Grandma would be vaccinated – that there would be few vaccines. She is 86 years old and is vaccinated every year. I thought these people should get it automatically, “Ms. Milena told her Experience List. “They keep saying: get vaccinated. And if you want to go, you’ll find that they may not be vaccinated at all, “he describes the uncertainty surrounding vaccines.

On Monday, Minister Adam Vojtěch (for YES) emphasized that in the coming season, mainly people from risk groups or health professionals should be vaccinated against influenza. However, the practitioners did not receive a strategy or official instruction for such a procedure from the ministry.

“We are not able to say who should receive the vaccine as a priority, because they are covered by public health insurance and administered by general practitioners. We will communicate with them to possibly prioritize people who are vaccinated regularly or who may be from chronic patient groups. We can agree with them, but we cannot tell to whom the vaccine should be given preferentially, “the minister answered the question List of Reports.

No interest

According to the chairman of the Association of General Practitioners Petr Šonka, such a procedure is already being considered and high-risk patients should be given priority in vaccination.

However, he admits that there will be fewer vaccines in some surgeries. According to him, some did not pre-order at the end of last season and due to increased demand on the market, they did not even get additional supplies. At the same time, it monitors some practices of practitioners, which were established this year and did not receive deliveries.

However, in the vast majority of surgeries, vaccination should reach seniors over the age of 65 or patients with chronic diseases who have a substance covered by the health insurance company, and at the same time show interest in it.

“It is also a group that the vaccine is usually given by the vast majority. There is a relatively small number of self-payers. It’s misjudged, but I have no reason to think he won’t make it this year. It is not the case that all people who belong to this group are interested in vaccination, some reject it, “said the doctor.

However, he admits that even doctors are now waiting to see if the concerns associated with covid-19 will actually increase interest in influenza vaccination rapidly or not. The usual date for vaccination is October and November.

So far, Petr Šonka himself is registering rather questions from regular people in the surgery.

“I don’t think they would call crowds of patients who didn’t get vaccinated last year and would be interested now. Older people or people from risk groups are more likely to speak. But no one can yet estimate what the real demand among patients will be in the end. I think there may be situations where the shortage will be local. That there will be greater demand in some places and that the doctor will no longer get vaccines. In general, however, this year’s increase should be enough, “he adds.

Missing definition

Jakub Dvořáček, the director of the Association of the Innovative Pharmaceutical Industry (AIFP), has a different opinion. He has previously called for a clear definition of the target groups for which vaccines need to be provided.

“The promotion campaign should be targeted so that there is no greater interest in vaccinations than there are vaccines available. It would be ideal to set a specific date from which the vaccine will be given and to present that day in the media. If the interest in flu vaccinations this year is similar to previous years, there will be enough vaccines. If there is a sharp increase in demand, which we are witnessing in other countries of the European Union, complications may await us, “says Jakub Dvořáček.

How we waste

Within a few epidemic weeks, about 10 to 15 percent of the population becomes infected with the flu, and depending on the nature of the causative strain, there are always varying numbers of complications and deaths.

According to the head of the Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases of the State Health Institute, Jan Kynčl, several tens to several hundred deaths due to influenza are reported in the Czech Republic every year.

According to the State Institute of Public Health, vaccination is the best protection against influenza. It reduces the need for hospitalization and the risk of death. Experts recommend annual vaccinations mainly to seniors and all people with chronic health problems.

Influenza vaccination is also suitable for pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy. And it is also recommended for those who are planning a pregnancy during the flu season.

Vaccination is paid for by risk groups of people by the insurance company.

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