As reported by the Ministry of Health and Healthcare, people from risk groups will receive free flu vaccinations in municipalities. You can also get vaccinated with a GP for a fee of NOK 50. For people who have a free card, vaccination will also be free at the GP.
The FHI announced the possibility of a strong influenza and R virus seasonS
– FHI announced the possibility of a strong one flu season and the RS virus that will appear with Covid-19. Therefore, it is considered especially important to embrace before the upcoming season vaccinations against influenza in risk groups. Therefore, I encourage as many people from risk groups as possible, including children, to get vaccinated against influenza, he says Minister for Health and Care Bent Hoie.
Children at risk are more likely to be hospitalized because of the fluy
In previous years, less than 20 percent of at-risk children took the vaccine. We need to make sure that vaccine offer is well known. What's new this year is that children born vaccine should also be offered prematurely. This applies to children as young as five, says Høie.
In 2020, the government opened the vaccination option for 50 crowns
Before 2020, risk groups had to pay between CZK 175 and CZK 575 for a flu vaccination. In 2020, the government opened the possibility of vaccinating risk groups against influenza at a medical clinic for 50 Norwegian kroner or free if they had a free card.
– This year, this program will be expanded. People at risk will receive free vaccinations in municipalities. The program will continue under which patients from risk groups can be vaccinated at their family doctor for NOK 50. For these, who have a free one card, it will be free, says Høie.
Municipalities must, in emergencies, have ample capacity to vaccinate against Covid-19 as part of 'Normal Everyday Life with Increased Preparedness'.
The flu vaccine will be available in October
For the 2021/2022 season The Norwegian Institute of Public Health managed to obtain a total of 1,84 million doses for risk groups i medical staff, of which approximately 241 doses are reserved for medical staff. This also includes 000 vaccine doses a reminder for the oldest and most vulnerable. This is a significant increase from 2020, when 1,2 million doses were ordered. This year's order can provide 100 percent. coverage in target groups and 75 percent medical staff.
We expect great interest in vaccinations
– We expect and hope that there will be high interest in vaccinations this fall primary care doctors will encourage at-risk patients to get vaccinated during their office visit, says Bent Høie.
GPs receive a fee for administering the vaccine. In the case of employees who may be exposed to infection with: workplace, the employer must ensure that information about the flu vaccine is received and cover the costs of vaccination. Vaccination of medical staff will follow the same payment models as before.
Data from Statistics Norway for 2020/2021 indicate that last year the coverage among people over 65 years of age was approximately 48 percent. Coverage was then higher among older people with comorbidities and lower among young people with risk diseases.
The following people are included in what we call risk groups, and the flu vaccine is recommended because of the increased risk of serious illness:
- Everyone over 65
- Residents of nursing homes and nursing homes
– Children and adults with heart disease and lungs, diabetes, liver or kidney failure, neurological diseases, weakened immune systems (and their loved ones) and very severe obesity
– Pregnant women in the second and third trimesters and pregnant women in the first trimester who suffer from a chronic disease or are employees service health
