With all eyes fixed on a vaccine for the coronavirus, it’d be easy to forget how important the flu vaccine is for many people. And now more than ever, explains UAntwerp’s Professor Pierre Van Damme, head of the Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination (CEV).
Am I eligible for a flu vaccine?
Pierre Van Damme: “That depends mainly on your profession, your health and other risk factors. The government is giving priority to specific target groups. Everyone aged 50 or over is definitely eligible for a vaccine. That’s because the risk of complications increases at that age, especially if you smoke, drink a lot of alcohol or are overweight.
Priority is also given to people in high-risk groups. One such group is pregnant women, regardless of the stage of their pregnancy. People with certain chronic conditions, including lung, heart, liver and kidney problems, diabetes and other metabolic diseases are also considered high-risk groups, even if their condition is well under control. This also includes asthma patients. Other people at risk are those with muscle disorders, immunodeficiency or a BMI above 35, as well as people living in care facilities and children receiving long-term aspirin therapy. All these people are at increased risk of serious complications.
You’re also eligible if you work in health care or if you live with a high-risk person or a baby younger than six months.”
Is a flu vaccine now extra important because of the corona pandemic?
Pierre Van Damme: “Yes, because if the flu season were to coincide with another peak of COVID-19, which is very likely, we want to keep the workload at the hospitals as low as possible. For people in high-risk groups, this is an additional argument in favour of vaccination. We also want to prevent general practitioners (GPs) from being overrun by patients with flu symptoms during the next wave who may want to have themselves tested for coronavirus. This would put pressure on our testing capacity. That’s why this year’s vaccination campaign targets all people over 50, even if they don’t have high-risk profiles.”
I’m not in the target group, but I still want to get a flu jab. Will I be able to get one?
Pierre Van Damme: “That’s possible, provided there are enough vaccines available. The vaccination campaign will be organised in two phases. Between 15 October and 15 November, only people in the abovementioned target groups can get flu vaccines. Others will have to wait until 16 November. However, the government is making more vaccines available this year than in previous years.”
As a UAntwerp staff member, you can still sign up for the free flu vaccine. More information can be found on Pintra.