Influenza, Vaccine | The authority chose to make the simplest solution the most expensive
The debate entry expresses the writer’s opinions.
High disease rates and an increased number of admissions put great pressure on the health service before we have even reached the peak of infection.
We are in the middle of one demanding flu season and it is particularly important that people in the risk group take this year’s flu vaccine.
Nevertheless, the authority has chosen to make the simplest solution the most expensive: The vaccine at the children’s office is sponsored by the public. You have to pay for the same vaccine at the pharmacy out of your own pocket.
Vulnerable situation
After corona, one would think that we all knew that it is important to have a high vaccination rate in the population.
High vaccination coverage can contribute to better preparedness, reduced pressure on the health care system and which in turn can free up resources for other important health priorities.
We have not yet reached peak of the flu waveand figures from FHI already show that the number of admissions linked to respiratory infections is significantly higher now, even before the pandemic.
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Every year approximately 900 people die in Norway as a result of the virus, and around 5000 are hospitalized. The last two years have been limited to flu and tracks in Norway, but this year the situation is different.
We have unusually little immunity in the population, and in addition to the flu, we have an unpredictable coronavirus and other respiratory infections in circulation.
Overall, this puts the health service in a vulnerable situation.
Assistant director of health, Espen Rostrup Nakstad, says at the flu peak has not yet been reached and that we can expect more and more flu infections.
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The hospitals are on yellow alert. The employees are sick and the patients are pouring in. They are preparing for a larger influx in the coming weeks. The Institute of Public Health and the Directorate of Health estimate that you can be above a flu peak until January.
Completely exterior
This situation shows that it is very important that as many as possible in the risk group take the flu vaccine, but Norway does not reach the WHO target of 75 percent vaccination coverage.
Despite the seriousness, the Norwegian authorities choose to just pay for the vaccines that are given by the GP. In Denmark, the target is reached at 75 percent. There is the vaccine free for the risk groupboth in the pharmacy and at the doctor’s office.
It is completely unnecessary for people in the risk group to take time off from work to go to the doctor’s waiting room between 9 o’clock and 2 o’clock, when they can come to the pharmacy as it suits them.
It is completely unnecessary for doctors to spend the time ordering flu vaccines when pharmacists can do it safely.
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Today’s arrangement simply entails higher costs for the individuals who must be vaccinated and for society.
The authorities must stop discriminating between people based on where they choose to get their flu vaccine. The most important thing is that it is set.