Flu vaccination rate in Baden-Württemberg at an alarmingly low level!

Flu vaccination rate in Baden-Württemberg at an alarmingly low level!

In Baden-Württemberg there is an uncomfortable vaccination climate during the flu season. According to current data from Techniker Krankenkasse, flu vaccination rates among older people are alarmingly low. Only 24 percent of people over 60 were vaccinated last flu season, a decrease of four percentage points compared to the previous year. This means that the state has the highest number of vaccine hesitant people in this age group. The numbers are also bleak across all ages: around 710,000 people with statutory health insurance, i.e. only around 12 percent of those insured, were vaccinated. Compared to the previous year, this corresponds to a decrease of 12 percent and even almost 39 percent less than in 2020, as Zeit.de report.

A look at the general willingness to vaccinate shows that society seems to trivialize the flu. Many people feel like they have never had the flu and therefore underestimate the risk. This perception means that the WHO and the EU are still aiming for a vaccination rate of 75 percent for risk groups, but are far from this goal. Even after the massive corona vaccination campaigns, trust in preventative vaccinations appears to have fallen. Health experts identify increasing vaccination fatigue among the population as another reason for the low vaccination rate. The Techniker Krankenkasse makes it clear that influenza activity is currently not unusually high, but the peak of the flu wave is expected at the turn of the year or thereafter.

Risks and Recommendations

The Standing Vaccination Commission offers clear recommendations on flu vaccination. The vaccination is recommended for people aged 60 and over, pregnant women from the second trimester onwards, people with health risks and residents of old people's and nursing homes. Medical staff and people who have regular contact with animals should also be vaccinated. Although there is no vaccination recommendation for healthy children and adults under the age of 60, it is not recommended against it. Experts point out that the best period for vaccination is between October and mid-December; Protection develops within about two weeks, according to N-TV.

Last year, around 390,000 cases of flu were registered across Germany, 34,600 of which were in Baden-Württemberg. Of particular concern is that 1,754 people died from influenza, with 90 percent of those over 60 years old. For older people, the flu shot can even prevent up to 80 percent of deaths, a fact that should not be ignored. The use of vaccines is offered by general practitioners and company doctors as well as in pharmacies. The costs for recommended groups are covered by the health insurance companies.

Data situation and outlook

Monitoring vaccination rates is important for planning vaccination recommendations and optimizing immunization strategies. It should be noted that there is no uniform system for collecting vaccination data in Germany. Current information is crucial to identify trends and regional differences, which is highlighted by the meetings of the Standing Vaccination Commission. The “KV Vaccination Surveillance” project, coordinated by the Robert Koch Institute, ensures the collection of vaccination data that is only available regionally, as [RKI](https://www.rki.de/DE/Themen/Infection Diseases/Impfen/Impfquoten/impfquoten-node.html) emphasizes.

The situation in Baden-Württemberg requires quick action. A call for increased awareness and information campaigns could perhaps help to raise public awareness of the importance of flu vaccination. There are challenges ahead that must be addressed decisively to protect everyone's health.