Assault on pharmacies. Are flu vaccines enough for everyone?

Flu season has begun. The first batches of vaccines have been delivered to pharmacies, so far in small amounts. And the interest is great. Is it enough for everyone?

1. In Poland, 4% of people are vaccinated against influenza. citizens. Last season – in the times of COVID-19 – more people were vaccinated, approx. 6 percent. Poles
2. In the previous season, 2,4 million doses of vaccines were used, according to the National Program for Combating Influenza, more than 3 million will now be needed
3. A total of four different preparations are to be delivered to Poland, some of them will be available in pharmacies for some time
4. The first volunteers are already storming pharmacies, but the peak of flu cases in Poland falls in the winter months
5. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

Flu vaccines 2021/22 – how many doses will be available?

According to the data of the National Program for Combating Influenza (OPZG), 2020 were used in the flu season 2021/2. 300 doses of flu vaccines.

Experts from OPZG estimated that the demand for influenza vaccines will increase by 45 percent this season. compared to the previous one and will amount to approximately 3,3 million doses.

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How much did the government order? According to the data of the Ministry of Health, the volume of vaccine supplies should amount to approximately 2 million 30 thousand. doses. The ministry explains that “it has purchased flu vaccines in the number necessary to perform vaccinations for the groups of patients specified in the ordinance of the Minister of Health of August 27, 2021”. That is, we are talking about reimbursed vaccines for specific groups (more on this later).

“The distribution and volume of supplies to pharmacies and medical entities depends on the production and commercial capabilities of individual pharmaceutical companies,” explains the Ministry of Health.

The National Program Against Influenza informs about the actual number of vaccines that will be delivered to Poland.

«In early September, the first batches of flu vaccines were delivered to pharmacies. In the second half of the month, vaccines will be available in medical facilities. A total of nearly 4 million doses are to be delivered to Poland, of which 1,36 million will go to pharmacies, and 760 thousand. will be allocated to health care facilities, the remainder will be purchased by the Governmental Strategic Reserves Agency. As every year, vaccines will gradually reach Poland, a total of 12 tranches are to be delivered »- reads the OPZG press release.

Gazeta Wyborcza reported that the attack on pharmacies has already begun. More HERE: huge interest in flu vaccines. In pharmacies, entries “for notebooks”

– No need to worry. The number of 4 million vaccines we talked about earlier remains valid. It should be enough for everyone – tells us Paulina Keler from the press office of the Polish Program Against Influenza. – In total, 12 tranches are to be released from September to December, the earliest ones are usually the smallest. Not all types of vaccines are available from pharmacies yet. The peak of the flu season falls in the first months of the new year, and the beginning is even delayed, it will be more October than September. So you can get vaccinated from September to January, even until February – he adds.

Flu vaccines 2021/22 – who is eligible for reimbursement?

Who will be able to get the flu vaccine for free?

Free flu vaccination is available to: persons employed in healthcare entities, pharmacists and pharmaceutical technicians, laboratory diagnosticians, teachers, lecturers, social workers, people from social welfare homes, officers, paramedics and soldiers.

Full refund of vaccines is also available to people over 75 years of age, as well as pregnant women.

Who will be able to count on a 50% refund?

1. people aged 65-74
2. people aged 18-64 with comorbidities
3. children from 2 to 5 years old

2021/22 Flu Vaccines – Which Will Be Available?

«Every year the composition of the vaccine is determined by WHO, which is adapted to the epidemiological situation. For several years, quadrivalent vaccines have been available on the market that provide protection against four strains of influenza virus – two type A and two type B. This season, WHO experts selected two new A strains, and B strains remain unchanged (compared to the vaccine from last season) »- informs OPZG.

What vaccines will be available in Poland?

1. Influvac Tetra – influenza vaccine, inactivated, containing purified surface antigens of 4 influenza viruses, prepared as a suspension for injection by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection.
2. Vaxigrip Tetra – an inactivated influenza vaccine containing a split virion obtained from 4 influenza viruses as antigens, prepared as a suspension for injection by the intramuscular or subcutaneous route.
3. Fluarix Tetra – an inactivated influenza vaccine containing a split virion obtained from 4 influenza viruses as antigens, prepared as a suspension for injection by the intramuscular or subcutaneous route.
4. Fluenz Tetra – live flu vaccine. Antigens are weakened influenza viruses grown to only reproduce at a lower temperature of around 25 ° C, which causes them to replicate in the nasal cavity rather than replicate in the lungs, intranasal dosing. Intended for children.

Flu vaccines 2021/22 – how much do they cost?

1. Vaxigrip Tetra – at a fee of 100 percent. costs PLN 51,86, with 50 percent. – PLN 26,10. People over 75 years of age and pregnant women are eligible for free vaccination with this preparation. Up to 50% discount eligible persons are over 65: after organ transplantation; suffering from respiratory failure, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular failure, coronary artery disease, renal failure, recurrent nephrotic syndrome, liver disease, metabolic diseases (including diabetes), neurological and neurodevelopmental diseases; in states of reduced immunity (including tissue transplantation and patients suffering from tumors of the haematopoietic system).
2. Influvac Tetra – price at 100% payment. is – 51,52 PLN, with 50 percent. – 25, 76. Pregnant women are entitled to free vaccination with this preparation. 50 percent discount is intended for people up to 65 years of age with an increased risk of post-influenza complications (after organ transplantation, suffering from respiratory failure, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular failure, coronary heart disease, kidney failure, recurrent nephrotic syndrome, liver disease , metabolic diseases including diabetes mellitus, neurological and neurodevelopmental diseases and immunodeficiency diseases including tissue transplant and hematopoietic malignancies).
3. Fluenz Tetra – price at 100% payment. is – PLN 95,73, with 50 percent. – PLN 47,87
4. Fluarix Tetra – this vaccine is not reimbursed. Its price may vary from one pharmacy to another.

Flu vaccines 2021/22 – are they available?

Vaxigrip Tetra is now available in pharmacies. According to the information on the website www.herepolek.pl, it can be found in 58 percent. pharmacies in our country.

Influvac Tetra is not yet available. It is expected to appear in pharmacies this month.

Fluenz Tetra is not yet available in pharmacies. To be delivered in October,

You also have to wait for Fluarix Tetra, is expected to be available in November.

Can COVID-19 and influenza vaccination be combined?

– Both vaccinations can be done in a short time, i.e. it is not recommended to do these vaccinations together for precautionary but not substantive reasons (probably nothing would happen if we vaccinated a person with both vaccines at the same time). As a precautionary measure, an interval of two weeks between vaccinations is recommended. Remember that we have plenty of time for the flu vaccine, but not that much for COVID-19. Vaccination against influenza gives us immunity after a week, and we have the most antibodies after a month – said Prof. Adam Antczak from the General and Oncological Pulmonology Clinic of the Medical University of Lodz.

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– Last year we wanted to get vaccinated very much, intuitively thinking that if we get vaccinated against the flu, it might protect us from a pandemic. And here’s a curiosity – influenza vaccinated people had a 2,5 times lower chance of being hospitalized for COVID-19 and a 3,3 times lower chance of developing a form of COVID-19 that would require hospitalization. In the context of the pandemic, flu vaccination also paid off. Therefore, now I encourage everyone to get vaccinated against the flu, especially those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, because they will have some protection – added the pulmonologist.

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