Flu on the attack. Record number of cases in Poland

The 2021/22 flu season started earlier than doctors expected. A record number of cases was recorded in September. It was similar in the first week of October. How to protect yourself from infection? Are there enough vaccines for everyone?

1. In September, almost 370 people fell ill with flu. people. This is a record result in history
2. At the same time, COVID-19 infections are rising, and the peak of the fourth wave is yet to come
3. So if both viruses of this type accumulate, the damage can be very large – says an infectious disease specialist
4. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

Flu – a record season ahead of us?

It looks like we have a record tough flu season ahead of us. Doctors are reporting that they observe an exceptionally high number of cases of influenza and flu-like infections. Extremely much and extremely early compared to previous years. One of the reasons may be the weather breakdown that occurred at the end of August. And as virologists emphasize, our immune system does not like temperature fluctuations, we are then more susceptible to infections.

According to the data of the National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene, almost 370 people were registered in September. cases of illness and suspicion of influenza. It is about 180 thousand. more than a year ago. However, last year was exceptional, as the sanitary regime introduced in connection with the coronarirus pandemic resulted in a serious reduction in the incidence of other infectious diseases affecting the respiratory tract.

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What was it like in previous years? In September 2019, we had 287 thousand. 47 cases, a year earlier – 244 thous. 118 cases, and in September 2017 – 322 thou. 432 infections. And as you can see in the picture below, 2017-2019 was a record year for flu in the last 45 years. There is a risk that we will break disgraceful records this season.

In the first week of October, there were already 115 thousand. 814 suspicions and cases of influenza. And the summit is still ahead of us – it usually takes place in the winter months.

Flu and COVID-19 – a deadly cumulation?

The sudden surge in flu cases coincides with the rising number of new COVID-19 infections. This is worrying, especially since the rules related to sanitary safety are no longer followed as much as last season.

– Much of the population is vaccinated against COVID-19 and there are people who are less afraid and behave less safely, such as not wearing a mask. In addition, there is fatigue with the pandemic situation, and therefore part of the society is naturally rebellious, bored and no longer afraid of the ongoing threat. This means we can expect more flu this season. What size will it be? It is not known – Prof. Adam Antczak, chairman of the Scientific Council of the National Program for Combating Influenza.

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COVID-19 and the flu are diseases that mainly affect the respiratory system. In both cases, the result can be pneumonia, fluid in the lungs, respiratory failure, but also inflammation of the heart, brain, muscle tissue, sepsis.

– So if both viruses of this type accumulate, the damage can be very large – said the specialist in infectious diseases and paediatrics, Dr. Lidia Stopyra in an interview with Medonet.

Jennifer Harries, the head of the UK Health Security Agency, recently shared a similar opinion with Sky News. – We should be worried about the flu. People still don’t realize it could be a fatal disease, he points out.

– And now, for the first time, we will see the flu circulating with COVID-19. The risk of catching both is high. Research shows that the risk of dying from two infections at the same time is twice as high as with the coronavirus, he warns.

Vaccination against COVID-19 and influenza – can you simultaneously?

The best way to avoid getting both COVID-19 and the flu is, of course, vaccination.

Harries points out that it will be possible to observe multivelin flu this winter, but thankfully there are four strains in this year’s vaccine against the disease, “so in our toolkit we have a fairly large fan to hit the one that becomes dominant.”

“ It’s crucial to get vaccinated against both COVID-19 and the flu, and to continue with the good hygiene practices we’ve been practicing throughout the coronavirus period, ” she said.

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Prof. Antczak. – People who vaccinated against flu last season 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 – said the pulmonologist.

Can I get vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19 at the same time? Doctors do not give unequivocal answers, but neither see any contraindications for taking both preparations at the same time.

The living proof that it is safe was two weeks ago by prof. Krzysztof Filipiak. He also took the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu preparation.

“Booster dose (in my case, the third dose of Pfizer) taken today in the right shoulder, and the seasonal flu vaccine – simultaneously in the left shoulder,” wrote a specialist in cardiology, internal medicine, hypertensiology and clinical pharmacology on Facebook.

Flu vaccine – how many doses will be available?

According to the data of the National Program Against Influenza, 2020 were used in the flu season 2021/2. 300 doses of flu vaccines. According to experts from OPZG, the demand will be much greater this season – at least 3,3 million doses will be needed.

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How many have been ordered? «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, the vaccines will gradually reach Poland, by the end of November there will be as many as 12 tranches »- reads the OPZG press release from a few weeks ago.

The vaccines that the government purchased will go to people who are eligible for free immunization. The rest will be available from pharmacies and health centers.

Flu Vaccines – Who Is Reimbursed?

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.

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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

Flu vaccines – what are available?

«Every year we determine the composition of the vaccine by WHO, which is adapted to the epidemiological situation. For several years, quadrivalent vaccines have been available on the market that provide protection against 4 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.

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The following vaccines were purchased for Poland:

1. Influvac Tetra – inactivated vaccine containing purified surface antigens of 4 influenza viruses (administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously)
2. Vaxigrip Tetra – an inactivated vaccine containing a split virion obtained from 4 influenza viruses as antigens (administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously)
3. Fluarix Tetra – an inactivated vaccine containing a split virion obtained from 4 influenza viruses as antigens (administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously)
4. Fluenz Tetra – live vaccine, the antigens are weakened influenza viruses grown in such a way that they only multiply at a lower temperature of about 25 ° C, which causes them to replicate in the nasal cavity and not in the lungs (administered intranasally).

Flu vaccine – how is it available in pharmacies?

Are there enough vaccines for everyone? – There is no need to worry. The number of 4 million vaccines we talked about earlier remains valid. It should be enough for everyone – Paulina Keler from the press office of the Polish Program Against Influenza told us. – In total, 12 tranches are to be released from September to December, the earliest ones are usually the smallest. The peak of the flu season falls in the first months of the new year, so you can get vaccinated from September to January, even until February – she noted.

– The interest in vaccines is at a similar level as in that year, ie higher than in previous years – says Piotr Brukiewicz, vice president of the Silesian Pharmaceutical Chamber in an interview with “Dziennik Zachodni”.

Vaccines are now available in pharmacies Vaxigrip Tetra (it can be found in many regions of Poland, with a 100% fee, it costs PLN 51,86) and Influvac Tetra (also available in many pharmacies, price – PLN 51,52)

Fluenz Tetra (price – PLN 95,73) is to appear soon, however Fluarix Tetra in November.

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