In addition to patients with chronic diseases and the over-65s, this year the flu vaccine is also recommended for children from 6 months to 6 years and for all subjects aged 60 and over.
The extension of the indication to the vaccine is motivated by the pandemic emergency and the goal is to try to avoid the concomitance of flu symptoms with those of Covid in the winter season, as well as the clogging of the emergency room and health services.
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THE PROTECTED BANDS
: the vaccine is free for the so-called fragile population categories
These are chronically ill and elderly over-65.
The circular from the Ministry of Health for the 2020-2021 flu season, however, provides for the extension of the recommendation to the vaccine from the age of 60.
Vaccination, it is specified, "can be offered free of charge in the 60-64 age group", while until now it was free from the age of 65.
For protected categories, vaccination is requested by the family doctor or pediatrician and is carried out in the same doctors' offices.
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CHILDREN
: referring to children - for whom vaccination is currently recommended in particular conditions or if suffering from particular pathologies - the circular emphasizes the opportunity to recommend vaccination in the 6 months-6 years age group "also in order to reduce circulation of the influenza virus among adults and the elderly in the current pandemic phase ".
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HEALTHCARE STAFF
: the anti-flu is also strongly recommended to health and social health professions who work in contact with patients and the elderly institutionalized in residential or long-term hospital structures.
This in the perspective of a legislative initiative that makes it mandatory.
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PREGNANT WOMEN
: it is appropriate, notes the ministry, "to sensitize both general practitioners and gynecologists and obstetricians on the importance of influenza vaccination in pregnant women", recalling that vaccination is offered free of charge.
In its most recent position paper on influenza, WHO considers pregnant women to be "the most important of the groups at risk for themselves and the fetus".
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ACTIVE POPULATION
: all citizens from 6 to 60 years of age who want to get vaccinated, but do not fall within the protected groups, can buy the vaccine at pharmacies upon prescription from the family doctor and carry out the vaccination at doctors' offices.
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COVERAGE
: according to the WHO, influenza vaccination should have a minimum coverage objective of 75% and 95% as the optimal objective in the over-65s and groups at risk.
