The district recommends influenza vaccination

The Värmland region is now recommending that everyone aged 65 or younger who is at risk of serious illness should be vaccinated against seasonal influenza.

We fear the flu season will be worse than usual, says Ingmar Hallen, chief medical officer for infection control.

Last year, it was Covid-19 that destroyed him, and the usual seasonal flu was completely resolved with his absence. For this reason, there is a risk that this year’s flu season will be worse than usual.

– We are afraid of him. This past flu season was unique in that the infection was less prevalent across Europe. Ingmar Hallen says we didn’t have a single case in Värmland last year.

This means that normal protection may be worse than usual and that groups at high risk of influenza should be vaccinated.

This applies to those over 65, which is a large group, but also younger people with certain conditions, such as carbonic lung disease, severe asthma, chronic liver failure or kidney failure, says Ingmar Hallen.

In 1177 there is a list of groups that are recommended to be vaccinated and there are also people who are very overweight and pregnant after week 16.

Health and care professionals who work near patients are also advised to get them vaccinated, says Ingmar Hallen.

For the elderly, a refill dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is also offered. In such cases, it must have been at least six months since you received your second dose of the covid-19 vaccine.

Then you can take the refill at the same time you get the seasonal flu shot, says Ingemar Hallén.

For those under 65 who belong to a medical risk group, as well as for pregnant women, the appointment opens today, Thursday. Those between the ages of 75 and 79 will have to wait until Tuesday next week, those between the ages of 70 and 74 will have to wait until the 46th week and those between the ages of 65 and 69 will have to wait until the 47th week before they can Set an appointment for vaccination.

Feel free to plan so that you can have both vaccinations at the same time when you book your time for vaccination. You will then get an injection in each arm and only need to travel to us for the vaccination at one time. Being able to have several people come to us at one time instead of two simplifies for the individual and us who are vaccinating, says District Manager Madeleine Johansson.

Värmland recommends getting vaccinated against seasonal influenza before mid-December.