Flu vaccine free for all adults. How to sign up? [WE EXPLAIN]

From Tuesday, November 23, every adult Pole will be able to get vaccinated against the flu free of charge. Vaccination can be combined with vaccination against COVID-19. How do I make an appointment for a flu vaccine?

1. In October, 475 fell ill with flu. people. In the first two weeks of November – 209 thousand. people. These are record high results
2. From now on, anyone willing to be at least 18 years old will be able to get vaccinated against this disease for free
3. We want as many Poles as possible to be willing and able to protect themselves from the flu – the Minister of Health Adam Niedzielski justified this decision
4. The vaccine is the most effective tool in the prevention of infectious diseases
5. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

Flu vaccinations – free for all adults from Tuesday

The government has expanded the group of people eligible for free flu vaccines. From November 23, all willing adults will be able to do so.

– From tomorrow, by the decision of the minister of health, every 18 plus person will be able to get a flu vaccine with reimbursement – said the spokesman of the Ministry of Health, Wojciech Andrusiewicz.

– We want as many Poles as possible to be willing and able to protect themselves from influenza, which is why from November 23 we are expanding the group that will be able to receive a free vaccine. We are also increasing the number of vaccines in pharmacies – explained Minister of Health Adam Niedzielski.

– Until recently, this reimbursement covered the elderly, people with impaired immunity, medics, uniformed services, but we can see that nearly 3. vaccination points do not report for vaccines. This means that people from these risk groups do not use these vaccinations, hence the quick decision of the Minister of Health Adam Niedzielski and the launch of vaccinations for people aged 18 plus from tomorrow – added the spokesman.

Andrusiewicz assured that the Government’s Strategic Reserves Agency has “quite a large number of flu vaccines”, but there are no such vaccines on the pharmacy market.

Free vaccinations from Tuesday will cover all adults, while children and adolescents have the right to 50%. discounts. As of November, 50% of the flu vaccine was reimbursed for children and adolescents aged 6 months to 18 years.

Flu vaccinations – how to sign up?

Wojciech Adrusiewicz emphasized that every adult person can go to the clinic, which is the vaccination point, and ask for a flu vaccination from tomorrow.

– There is no reason for POZ to refuse, because there are over 1 million vaccines currently available from the Governmental Agency for Strategic Reserves and these vaccines can be transferred on an ongoing basis – he explained.

1. How much is a cold now? [WE CHECK]

«People who want to get free vaccination do not need a referral for the vaccine. All they need to do is come to the selected vaccination center and make an appointment. A declaration must be completed prior to vaccination (the declaration was required when only some people were entitled to free vaccinations, after the vaccination was extended to all adults, information about it still appears on the Ministry of Health website – note ed.), and then go to an appointment with a doctor who qualifies for the procedure.

People without symptoms of acute infection and high fever should be vaccinated. There is no need to take a break between vaccinations, for example against COVID-19 and against influenza »- we read on the website of the Ministry of Health.

The list of vaccination centers (over 3) offering free flu vaccinations can be found on the website of the Ministry of Health. These points are not the same as the COVID-19 immunization points.

Flu in Poland – a record of cases in October

The flu attacked this year with exceptional force. In October, 475 fell ill with flu. people. It is over 200 thousand. more than a year ago (then it was 262). However, 2020 was a specific year, marked by the coronavirus pandemic – on the one hand, we took more care to avoid infectious diseases, and on the other – the diagnosis of influenza was severely limited.

1. Can I get vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19 at the same time?

What was it like in the pre-pandemic times? In October 2019, 470 fell ill with flu. people, a year earlier it was 398 thousand, and in 2017 – 457 thousand.

In the first two weeks of November, she fell ill with the flu – according to the NIZP-PZH data – 209 thousand people

The record flu season (counts from September to August of the following year) in recent years is 2017/2018. Then 5 million 415 thousand fell ill. people. At the moment, we have 1 million 54 thousand. illnesses, and it must be remembered that the most infections occur in the winter months, between January and March, and the peak falls in mid-February.

Source: National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene

Vaccination against influenza – the most effective protection

Why is it worth getting vaccinated against this flu? Preventive vaccinations are the most effective tool in combating infectious diseases. They protect against disease, as well as severe complications and death from infection.

1. Why is it worth getting the flu vaccine, especially now? 10 good reasons

Vaccinations prevent disease in 40-70%. depending on the flu season and the vaccinated population. The effectiveness of flu vaccines also depends on the health and age of the person to be vaccinated, and the type / subtype of influenza virus causing infections in that season.

Importantly, as in the case of COVID-19 vaccines, vaccination against influenza provides high protection against severe disease and post-influenza complications.

Vaccination against influenza and COVID-19 – it is possible at the same time

Can I get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19 at the same time? Doctors see no contraindications.

– We urge that in the epidemic season, when the flu is coming, you should also get vaccinated against the flu and you can combine it with the third dose of COVID-19 – said Prof. Krzysztof J. Filipiak, Rector of the Medical University of Maria Skłodowskiej-Curie in Warsaw.

1. How to sign up for a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine? [WE EXPLAIN]

– With the older types of vaccines, we kept the 14-day interval. In the case of the mRNA vaccine, i.e. the vaccine that we will vaccinate as the third dose against COVID-19, it does not matter – explained prof. Filipiak.

– Most people absolutely can have the two vaccines at the same time. We vaccinate like that, we have experience in it and it is really safe. Nothing bad is happening – added the national consultant in the field of family medicine, Dr. Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas.

Flu – Who Can It Most Most?

Influenza is a group of clinical symptoms associated with an acute respiratory infection. The onset of flu is quite rapid, and the most common symptoms are fever, runny nose, cough, headache, sore throat, muscle aches, and a feeling of breakdown and weakness. In younger children, the most common symptoms are fever and abdominal pain. Occasionally, vomiting and mild diarrhea are also observed. The flu usually clears up on its own after about seven days, but some symptoms, such as coughing and general weakness, can go on for much longer.

Anyone can get flu, but the flu is especially hard to get:

1. people over 65 years of age,
2. children under the age of 5,
3. pregnant women,
4. overweight / obese people,
5. people with chronic diseases: heart, lungs, immunodeficiency (e.g. HIV infection), diabetes, congestive heart failure.

Flu vaccines – what are available?

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 multiply only at a lower temperature of about 25 degrees C, which causes them to replicate in the nasal cavity, not in the lungs (administered intranasally).

They were covered by the refund VaxigripTetra (100 or 50 percent), Influvac Tetra (100 or 50 percent) i Fluenz Tetra (50 proc.).

You may be interested in:

1. The epidemic is getting worse, but the government is not listening to experts from the Medical Council
2. The Polish patient spent 140 days under ECMO. It is risky, very expensive, it does not heal, but it saves lives. What is this?
3. Five diseases that can be confused with COVID-19

The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.