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On October 15, vaccinations against seasonal flu and covid-19 begin – several weeks earlier than last year.
– It is very difficult to know exactly when the increase will come, says state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén.
Last year’s late vaccine start was criticized, among other things, by seven researchers in DN Debatt. Then came an early rise of covid-19, before the vaccination of risk groups began, and also the flu peak came earlier than it used to before the pandemic.
– In retrospect, you can say that it would have been better if we had started a little earlier, but that was based on the information the authority had at the time, says Gisslén.
So far, the spread of seasonal flu has not started, only isolated cases are reported among people who have been infected abroad.
Lower level
Covid-19 has increased from a very low level at the beginning of the summer and is causing both hospitalizations and some deaths.
– We have an ongoing spread of infection, but it is at a clearly lower level than the peak we expect to come in the fall or winter, says Magnus Gisslén.
It is the omicron variant of covid-19 that spreads, but exactly which sub-variant will dominate when the spread of infection is greatest cannot be predicted.
– The subvariants we see now have no special characteristics that would lead to more serious disease, we don’t think so. However, it is more difficult to predict how many cases we will see and how the peak will be.
Especially vulnerable
Anyone aged 65 or over will be offered free vaccination, as will pregnant women and people with diseases or conditions that make them particularly vulnerable.
– It is very clear that in those groups there is a risk of serious illness, an increased risk of needing hospital care and an increased risk of dying. We also know that vaccination protects these groups against serious illness, says Magnus Gisslén.
FACTS Covered by the recommendation
Groups for which vaccines against both influenza and covid-19 are recommended:
People who are 65 years of age or older.
Pregnant after week 12 of pregnancy.
Adults aged 18–64 with, among other things, the following diseases, diagnoses or conditions:
Cardiovascular disease including stroke, chronic lung disease, diseases or conditions that lead to impaired lung function or impaired cough power (for example, extreme obesity), liver failure, kidney failure, type 1 and 2 diabetes and conditions that involve a severely weakened immune system due to disease or treatment , including Down syndrome.
Special recommendations apply to children in risk groups.
Source: Public Health Agency
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