Compulsory vaccination or free choice? Pirmasenser in the vaccination dilemma!

Compulsory vaccination or free choice? Pirmasenser in the vaccination dilemma!

Autumn is in full swing in Pirmasens and cold season has arrived. The change of seasons not only brings with it colorful leaves, but also the question: What is the population's willingness to be vaccinated against flu and corona? In a survey in the pedestrian zone, passers-by were asked to share their opinions and experiences. The picture is diverse and shows a mixed picture of attitudes.

Maria Pfangert, one of the respondents, only had the flu once in her life and sees no reason to get vaccinated - neither against the flu nor against Corona. Christian Koller’s perspective is completely different. With his previous illnesses, he is concerned about his health and gets vaccinated against flu and corona every year. He plans to do so in the next few days.

A differentiated picture of willingness to vaccinate

Jennifer Waldorf, who works in a workshop for the disabled, says that she skips a flu vaccination in the winter, but took the corona vaccination earlier in order to be well positioned in her professional environment. Jessica Hach is also critical of the topic of vaccination. She only received the corona vaccine once during her pregnancy, but ultimately did not neglect the flu vaccination and had her children vaccinated.

But not everyone shares the same beliefs. Sandra Niche, who gets vaccinated against influenza every year for work reasons, had a vaccination reaction after the corona vaccination and has decided not to be vaccinated against corona in the future. Her colleague, Dennis Liebig, also remains skeptical. He has so far avoided both the flu and the corona vaccination and prefers to rely on antibiotics for illnesses. This trend in the survey reflects the general uncertainty that many people seem to be feeling at the moment.

Vaccination as a protective measure

As the number of infections increases in the corresponding season, the importance of vaccinations for risk groups becomes ever greater. In the discussion about vaccinations, the possibility of combined vaccinations is becoming increasingly attractive. As the Yellow list explains, many people want to minimize their visits to the doctor and are considering vaccinations at the same time. A study published in the prestigious journal JAMA Network Open suggested that simultaneous administration of an mRNA Covid-19 and a quadrivalent influenza vaccine is both safe and tolerable.

The results of the study, which was conducted in the United States from October 2021 to June 2023, show that vaccination reactions occur at similar rates between groups. The difference was minimal, indicating that both vaccinations were tolerated in one day. Such a clear result can be particularly important for people with limited mobility or those who shy away from visiting the doctor.

It remains to be seen how willingness to vaccinate will develop in the coming weeks. The resulting decisions could directly affect the health of many people.