At the same time as the long-awaited warmth begins to take off, so does a sign of spring that is not as popular – birch pollen season. Since a couple of years ago, there are vaccines in addition to the usual medicines. But too few allergists mean that not everyone can get help.
For approximately 30 percent of Sweden’s population, the long-awaited spring heat also means that the pollen allergy strikes. This year, the amount of birch pollen is extra troublesome because of the late spring, which in many places causes both early and late birches to bloom at the same time.
For those who cannot cope with antihistamine, cortisone spray and eye drops, there has been a vaccine in the form of tablets against grass and birch allergy for a couple of years now. But the regional differences between who receives pollen vaccine treatment are large.
– We believe that it is approximately five to ten percent of all patients with pollen allergy who need immunotherapy, but today we only treat a fraction of them, says Pär Gyllfors, allergist at the Asthma and Allergy Clinic.
Patients with ongoing allergy vaccinations in Sweden in 2022.
Patients with ongoing allergy vaccinations in Sweden in 2022.
Large regional differences
Access to treatment is lowest in Norrbotten, where 7 out of 10,000 people received treatment last year, while in Halland it was 46 out of 10,000 people who received treatment last year. This is shown by statistics from the pharmaceutical company ALK and the National Board of Health and Welfare.
The reason why so few people are treated is that there is a lack of allergists, i.e. allergy doctors.
According to Pär Gyllfors, around 70 allergists across the country currently work with adult patients.
– Since there are now tablets with immunotherapy against both birch and grass pollen for a few years now, we train family doctors and general practitioners to help with this treatment, says Pär Gyllfors
– We have started that process, and there are many more GPs who need to train so that more patients can take part in this fine treatment.