Contraindications
As with all other vaccinations, there are also certain contraindications for the flu vaccination for which one should not be vaccinated. These include serious infections or an allergy to chicken protein or other components of the vaccine. With an illness with a heavy infection one should shift its planned flu inoculation simply, until one is again healthy.
Since the vaccination season 2014/2015, the flu vaccination is also available without chicken egg protein, so that now also persons with a chicken egg protein allergy can be vaccinated against flu. Likewise, children and adolescents suffering from a severe immune deficiency or severe asthma should not be vaccinated with the live flu vaccine, but only with the dead vaccine. Most flu vaccines are based on incubated hen’s eggs.
The vaccine therefore contains traces of chicken egg protein, so flu vaccination is contraindicated in the case of a severe allergy to chicken egg protein. In case of slight allergies against chicken egg protein, a decision can be made depending on the vaccination indication. For example, pregnant women are recommended to be vaccinated even if they have a slight allergy to chicken egg white. In this case, the vaccination should be administered under stationary observation so that allergic reactions can be treated immediately.
Who should not get a flu vaccination?
A clear contraindication for influenza vaccinations are allergies to the vaccine ingredients. These include allergies to chicken egg protein, since flu vaccines are usually produced on a chicken egg protein basis. In addition, some immunocompromised persons are not vaccinated. In some extreme immunosuppressive diseases, the immune system is so severely damaged that even against a vaccine no antibodies can be produced. For persons who cannot be vaccinated, special medication is available in acute cases.
Costs
The flu vaccination is free of charge for persons who are counted by STIKO among the above-mentioned risk group. If other people also wish to be vaccinated against influenza, they may have to pay the costs of the flu vaccination themselves, which range between €20 and €35. Therefore, it is always advisable to contact your health insurance company in advance to find out whether they will cover the vaccination costs or not.
In some companies the vaccination is carried out by the company doctor and the employee pays the costs. Again, it is advisable to ask about the possible costs of the flu vaccination before the planned vaccination to avoid misunderstandings. The health insurance generally covers the costs of the flu vaccination for all people who want to be vaccinated.
The health insurance also covers the costs for privately insured persons. Ideally, you should contact the insurance company before the vaccination, so that the costs can be refunded quickly. Mostly, however, as a privately insured person you have to pay the costs yourself first. First you have to buy the vaccine with a prescription from the doctor himself at the pharmacy. Then you can submit the invoice from the pharmacy and the doctor to the health insurance company, which should then refund the amount.
