GPs are busy with the great interest in the flu shot. There is a risk of a shortage of flu vaccines.
Every year 6 million people receive an invitation for the flu shot. These are mainly people with heart or lung disease and people over 60. Normally, about half of the people come to the general practice to actually get a flu shot. This year the interest is greater. Some general practitioners are in danger of running out of injections and it is not possible to reorder from the RIVM, as the AD writes. In some places people had to go home without a flu shot. The half a million extra flu shots ordered appear to be insufficient.
flu and corona
One of the causes of the increased popularity is the corona outbreak. People don’t want the flu and get corona. Those who get sick less from the flu are better resistant to other lung diseases, such as COVID-19, according to experts. In addition, the flu shot was given for a number of people in combination with the pneumococcal shot, a vaccine also protects against severe pneumonia, but then from pneumococci. This resulted in an extra influx of people aged 73-79.
Gym or tent
In the meantime, it is a challenge for GPs to prick all people in a safe way. The practice is often too small to be able to give so many people the shot at a safe distance. There are long lines, or the doctor even rents a gym or a big tent to administer the injection safely.
