For several weeks it was difficult for many a doctor's practice in the district to carry out the flu vaccinations that had been common for years.
The result: the patients were put off.
Now supplies are available again.
And - if the demand is low - too much.
District
- "It was pretty chaotic this time," says Birgitta Seemüller.
As the pharmacist, who has branches in Schliersee, Hausham and Holzkirchen, reports, Corona has apparently thrown the plans pretty much upside down.
“Usually, pre-orders are made by the end of April, based on the data from the previous year.” In addition, there is a safety reserve.
Due to Corona, the pre-order was even extended until the end of May this year.
But because the demand was significantly higher in autumn due to Corona, there were bottlenecks.
"Every doctor's practice orders the required number of vaccination doses through their pharmacy," Seemüller describes the process.
In order to avoid any delivery problems, the company deliberately relied on several providers.
But even that was of no use.
"More was produced, but the Federal Ministry of Health and the Free State of Bavaria have also stocked up on large numbers of vaccination doses."
Additional vaccination doses from the federal and state governments
When the vaccine suddenly ran out, the Federal Ministry of Health released its quota at the beginning of October, according to Seemüller.
“You could make a note of that.” However, it remained open who gets how much and when.
In November, the Free State released its 550,000 doses reserve through the Bavarian Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians.
"Many doctors took advantage of that," says Seemüller.
The result: Now the vaccine from the Federal Ministry of Health - six million doses as a national reserve - is on the market, but many practices are already supplied by the Free State.
A total of 26 million vaccine doses are available for Germany this year.
Avoid super infections from flu and corona
Many pharmacies are now sitting on too much vaccine.
On the other hand, there are still many patients waiting to be vaccinated.
"These people should now contact their family doctor," says Seemüller.
It is not too late for the flu vaccination in mid-December.
"It makes sense as long as the cold season lasts."
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Also with a view to Corona, as Wolfram Keller, pharmacist from Schaftlach and spokesman for around 30 pharmacies in the district, confirms: "The risk from Covid-19 is significantly greater when the body is already weakened by an existing flu." Therefore, one should also come in top shape for vaccination.
The reason that the vaccine is not that easy to produce is because it is remixed for each cold season.
"In order to be up to date with the latest virological information, our summer is based on flu events in the southern hemisphere, where winter is at the same time," explains Seemüller.
The new vaccine is then mixed from this.
As the Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedical Medicines, the Paul Ehrlich Institute in Langen is testing the new mixtures and approving them.
Hygiene measures are having an effect
Overall - as both Keller and Seemüller determine - the hygiene measures are having an impact on a broad front.
The infection rate has noticeably decreased.
"Masks, hand washing and keeping your distance generally reduce the risk of infection," says Seemüller.
"In addition, people stay at home more consistently when they have symptoms." There is also less travel activity.
“We notice all of that.” And with the flu vaccination, the risk can be further minimized.
(ddy)