The flu vaccination begins on October 15th. What do you need to know and where you can immunize
From October 15, the flu vaccination campaign begins. Children, elderly, pregnant women, but also chronic patients will be able to immunize free, and those between 45 and 65 will benefit from a 50%discount. The vaccine can be administered even in accredited pharmacies. This year's serums offer protection for three stems, instead of four, as was the past years. The explanation? One of the stems completely disappeared from the circulation.
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Who can be vaccinated for free
According to the National Health Insurance House, the list of those who can be vaccinated for free includes the following categories:
– Children and young people between six months and 19
– Pregnant women
– people over 665
– people between the ages of 19 and 65 suffering from chronic cardiovascular disease; chronic respiratory diseases; chronic kidney disease; chronic liver disease; chronic neurological diseases; metabolic diseases; oncological diseases; autoimmune diseases; congenital malformations; obesity; HIV/AIDS infection; assplenia; immunosuppressive therapy; transplant. – congenital immunosuppression.
– medical and auxiliary staff.
.. traditionally, during this period we find sporadic cases of influenza. The most intense circulation is to appear towards the end of November, perhaps even December, and there will be maximum intensity in January and February. That is why it is very important for people in risk groups to present themselves now, in October, for vaccination, so that at the beginning of the influenza season they have full protection “says Gindrovel Dumitra, a family doctor.
The compensation of 50% of the price of the vaccine benefits between 45 and 65 years.
The others can be vaccinated for a fee. The price of the classic vaccine (tetravex) is 80 lei, and the nasal variant of the children's vaccine costs 269 lei. Influenza vaccination is recommended by doctors to everyone.
What are the steps to follow
The free or compensated vaccine is obtained on the basis of a prescription from the family doctor or a specialist doctor (eg pediatrician, pneumologist, general doctor). Once the recipe obtained, the vaccines can be raised from pharmacies. Those who do not benefit from any compensation can buy the vaccine without having a prescription. Then, patients have two variants: either go to the doctor for vaccine administration, or they can do it in the accredited pharmacies.
Beatrice Speteanu, pharmacist and president of the associations of traditional pharmacies and practitioners say:
“This year comes with a novelty: it was adopted two weeks ago, in Parliament, the status of the pharmaceutical service, is recognized.
For patients it is much more practical to choose a pharmacy in its vicinity. It will take about 30-40 minutes and will be able to leave vaccinated. The easiest thing is for those who are in the field of work and do not have time for schedules, to go to the doctor. We are talking about the age category between 20 and 50, but we also have many elderly people who want it, because it is easier. “
The list of accredited pharmacies, where you can vaccinate the flu, you can find it on the Ministry of Health's website.
What conditions should pharmacies meet
In addition to the fact that accredited staff is needed, pharmacies must meet other conditions to provide vaccination services.
,The pharmacy must have a specially arranged space for vaccination. It has to ensure the patient's discretion, because an anamnesis will be done, we must keep it after vaccination for monitoring and then you will be able to go home. There must also be a sink next to the special dispenser for biological products used. That is why not all pharmacies can be suitable for vaccination in the pharmacy. And also the pharmacist must follow the courses ”, explains Beatrice Speteanu.
This also emphasizes the importance of vaccination:
“We are talking about the elderly, young children, pregnant women, people who have other conditions. They are the first to protect themselves. Vaccination is prevention. Antiviral treatment is much more aggressive. In the case of adverse reactions from vaccination, there are European countries that have reported none. “
This year's vaccines provide protection against three stems of influenza virus
This year's novelty is that vaccines provide protection against three flu stems. Doctors say that a fourth stem would have disappeared completely from circulation, for a reason that is related to the Covid Pandemia 19.
“As a result of the measures to limit the spread of the SARS-COV2 virus in pandemia, we have a colalteral victim: type B influenza virus, Yamagata line. Basically this subtype of influenza virus has not been identified in circulation in April 2020. Consequently, it was excluded from the vaccine. It is an exclusion as a result of the absence of over four years of this genetic line ”explains the doctor Gindrovel Dumitra.
