General information
Generally known as “flu“, the disease is an infection with the so-called influenza virus and is therefore also called seasonal influenza infection in the medical field. It occurs mainly during the colder and wetter seasons and should not be confused with a common cold or flu-like infection. The course of the influenza illness can be very different for each person.
Some patients show distinctly pronounced symptoms that are accompanied by a strong feeling of illness. Other patients, on the other hand, tend to show mild symptoms that do not severely limit their symptoms. In order to prevent the disease, there is a vaccination, as with some other diseases. Vaccination against most diseases is given during childhood. Examples are diseases like measles, mumps, rubella or chickenpox.
When should the flu vaccination take place?
The flu vaccination is recommended for all healthy people before or at the beginning of the flu season. Therefore, vaccination is recommended from the end of September to the end of November. People who belong to a risk group can also be vaccinated at a different time.
This is especially true for elderly people and children. Pregnant women and sick people should also be vaccinated in principle, vaccination before the flu season is possible. For example, pregnant women should be vaccinated in the fourth month of pregnancy. Such a vaccination recommendation regardless of the season also applies to people with a weakened immune system.
Who should be vaccinated against the flu?
The so-called Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO) in Germany issues a number of recommendations for vaccinations. For the flu vaccination, the Standing Commission on Vaccination recommends that some groups of people should have a special vaccination carried out. These include above all older people over 60, pregnant women, chronically ill persons who are at increased risk of a more severe course of the disease due to an infection with influenza, as well as residents of nursing homes and medical staff.
These groups of people are those expressly mentioned by STIKO, as they are at increased risk of a more severe course of the disease and an increased incidence of possible complications of influenza. Flu vaccination is also important for people who have increased and direct contact with poultry. All other persons can of course also be vaccinated against flu at any time as a precaution. They are therefore by no means excluded from a vaccination. The STIKO only does not include you in the group of particularly vulnerable persons who should definitely be vaccinated.
