Autumn is here, winter is coming – and with it the flu season. Is it worth getting a flu shot this year? And when is the right time for it? Answers to the most important questions.
What is the difference between Covid-19 and the flu?
Fever, cough, fatigue – the symptoms of Covid-19 and the real virus flu (influenza) are very similar, but are triggered by different pathogens. In the case of Covid-19, an infection with the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus causes the symptoms, in the case of the flu, influenza viruses are the culprit. In contrast, the harmless colds, which are often referred to as flu-like infections, are usually caused by rhino or adenoviruses.
Important to know: It is not possible to differentiate between an infection with the coronavirus, influenza virus or cold pathogens on the basis of symptoms alone. Only a test can provide information.
Who is the flu vaccine recommended for?
As in previous years, the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) has issued a recommendation for certain risk groups, including older people from the age of 60, pregnant women, the chronically ill, residents of nursing homes and people who live with a person from the named risk groups in a household Life. Influenza protection is also recommended for people who have an increased risk of infection for professional reasons, including medical staff.
What about healthy children and healthy adults under the age of 60?
They usually suffer from influenza without serious complications, so vaccination is not generally recommended. Important to note: This does not mean that it is not advised against. In individual cases, and especially with certain pre-existing conditions, you should clarify with your family doctor whether a vaccination should be given.
How is the flu going?
Influenza symptoms usually set in very suddenly: those affected complain of an extreme feeling of illness, body aches, fever and fatigue. A dry cough and a stuffy nose are also classic symptoms. If the course is uncomplicated, the symptoms will improve after about five to seven days.
Influenza illnesses can also take a severe course with complications such as pneumonia. Elderly, previously ill and pregnant women are at an increased risk.
When is the right time to get the flu shot?
The annual flu wave usually begins around New Year’s Eve. It takes 10 to 14 days after vaccination until protection is built up. The best time to get vaccinated against the flu is therefore from October to mid-December. But a later vaccination is also seen as useful by experts. The reason: flu waves often last a long period of time, usually three to four months.
Which vaccine is used?
A so-called quadrivalent vaccine is used – it protects against four different virus subtypes. The reason for this: There is no such thing as one classic flu virus. Different variants circulate around the world. The flu vaccine is therefore adjusted annually and contains antigens from the flu viruses, which are very likely to dominate the respective season – and which therefore pose the greatest risk of infection.
In Germany, so-called dead vaccines are used against the flu. They contain killed pathogens or only components of the pathogens. The killed viruses can no longer multiply in the body. There is therefore no risk of infection from the vaccine. Unlike most corona vaccines, one vaccination is sufficient for complete protection.
How well does the flu vaccine protect?
The protective effect of the flu vaccine can vary from year to year – depending on how well the vaccine matches the flu viruses actually circulating. In older people, the protective effect is also somewhat weaker than in younger adults. On average, however, older people can also roughly halve their risk of developing influenza through the vaccination.
Why is the flu shot so important this year?
Risk groups are generally recommended to get vaccinated against the flu every year. This year, as in the previous one, the Piks fulfills another important task: It is intended to prevent treatment bottlenecks in the clinics that can arise when many flu sufferers have to be cared for in addition to corona patients.
If I get the flu vaccination, do I have to make sure that there is a certain time interval before the corona vaccination?
No. The vaccinations can even be given at the same time – but then in different limbs, for example one syringe in the left arm and the other in the right arm. Under certain circumstances, this may lead to more pronounced but temporary vaccination reactions, such as a slight fever or headache and body aches.
Why did the flu wave fail in the 2020/2021 season?
Wearing a mask and “social distancing” not only contain the coronavirus, but also other pathogens. This was particularly impressive in the last flu season – the closings of schools and day-care centers as part of the lockdown also prevented respiratory pathogens from spreading.
It is currently unclear how the flu season will develop in the coming winter. However, it is at least doubtful that it will remain at such a weak level as in 2020/2021. The corona measures are less strict than last year. Many areas of public life are open again, which basically gives viruses more opportunities to spread.
Is there anything else to consider?
People with an allergy to egg white must not be vaccinated with the common flu vaccine. Infections with a fever above 35.5 degrees Celsius should also be cured first. Regular hand washing, wearing a mask or coughing and sneezing in the crook of your arm – this not only protects against corona, but also against flu viruses. In winter, these measures are therefore even more important.
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