– I am restless. Too few health personnel have been vaccinated up to now. That’s according to Bjørn Guldvog, director of the Directorate of Health. He points out that less than a third of Norway’s healthcare personnel have been vaccinated against influenza this year. This is a significant decrease from last year, when more than half were vaccinated and provided the highest coverage ever. It is health personnel employed in primary health care who have been the worst at getting vaccinated against influenza, and only 24 per cent have taken the vaccine. The goal is a coverage rate of 75 percent. Worst of all, they have been in Troms and Finnmark, where only 18 per cent have taken the vaccine. Who should get vaccinated against influenza? Everyone from the age of 65 Pregnant women after the 12th week of pregnancy Residents of care homes and nursing homes Health personnel who have close contact with patients Children and adults with: diabetes type 1 and 2 chronic lung disease (including asthma), cardiovascular disease (other than well-regulated high blood pressure) , liver failure or kidney failure chronic neurological disease or injury weakened immune system as a result of disease or treatment of disease (e.g. cancer, HIV, rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases) very severe obesity (BMI over 40) other serious and/or chronic disease where influenza poses a serious health risk, according to individual assessment by a doctor Source: FHI Don’t know why Tala resonates well with the staff at Alta care center. It wasn’t crowded there when they had drop-in vaccinations in the autumn. The manager of the Alta care center, Johanne Kristensen, has no answer as to why there are more people who have not received the vaccine at the nursing home. Photo: CHRISTIAN KRÅKENES / news Operations manager Johanne Kristensen has no answer as to why. – We encourage our employees to take the vaccine, she says. Nurse Silje Paulsen feels that they have not been told clearly enough why they should get vaccinated. – What I have got the impression is that they say they vaccinate the elderly, then they have good protection. It is also individual whether health personnel want to take it or not, says the nurse. – Need more information According to the latest weekly report from FHI, 55 per cent of everyone over 65 has been vaccinated against influenza. Altogether, just over a million Norwegians have taken the flu vaccine this year. Last year, there were 71,000 more people who had taken the vaccine at the same time. In week 46, there were 53 people admitted to Norwegian hospitals with influenza, according to the report. This is a doubling compared to week 44. The flu vaccine is important to reduce the risk of vulnerable patients becoming infected with the virus. – Those who have contact with vulnerable patients should be vaccinated. This includes everyone in the municipal health and care service, says Guldvog. Bjørn Guldvog, director of the Directorate of Health, hopes more people take the vaccine before the flu season hits. Photo: ISMAIL BURAK AKKAN / news The Directorate of Health has a clear goal that more health personnel should be vaccinated. The aim is a coverage rate of 75 per cent, in line with what the EU aims for. Nurse Paulsen believes that more information is needed to get a higher level of coverage. – We need to get better and clearer information on why we should vaccinate ourselves, she says. At the same time, the nurse is clear that there are individual reasons why one chooses not to take the vaccine. – Some are worried about side effects or allergies, she explains. She adds that there has been a lot of confusion about the corona vaccine, and that some are unsure of how much they should actually vaccinate. Side effects of the flu vaccine The effectiveness of the flu vaccine varies from year to year, but is on average around 60 per cent. This means that approximately 60 per cent of those vaccinated are protected against influenza. The effect depends on the properties of the virus, the vaccine and those being vaccinated. Some people get the flu despite the vaccine. For these, it still appears that the vaccine can reduce the risk of serious disease progression. Influenza vaccine can cause: tenderness, redness and swelling at the injection site. fever, slight malaise and muscle pain. This is not the flu, but the immune system reacting to the vaccine. Allergic reactions or other serious side effects rarely occur. The flu vaccine only contains parts of killed flu viruses and therefore cannot cause flu disease. Influenza vaccine for pregnant women The Institute of Public Health recommends influenza vaccine for pregnant women after the 12th week of pregnancy. This is because pregnant women in their second and third trimesters and infants have an increased risk of serious illness if they get the flu. Pregnant women in the first trimester who also have other additional risks should take the vaccine. If you take the flu vaccine while you are pregnant, the vaccine can protect your baby against the flu for the first six months after birth. You can read more about the various potential side effects of the flu vaccine by clicking here. Sources: Helsenorge / Folkehelseinstituttet Hope more people take it Guldvog hopes more people get the vaccine before it’s too late. – Now is just the time for healthcare personnel to take the vaccine, so that they are well protected before the flu season starts, he says. And the vaccine is safe, assures the director of health: – I would like to emphasize that when it comes to the flu vaccine, it is the safest vaccine we know of, with very few side effects. It is very good protection to prevent you from infecting other vulnerable people in a situation where it could have major consequences. That there will be a flu wave this winter, the Directorate of Health is sure of that. There is also a risk that it will not come alone. – It can come at the same time as a wave of covid-19, says Guldvog.
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Sharp decline in health personnel getting vaccinated against influenza – news Troms and Finnmark
