Flu vaccine

Flu vaccine

Flu is caused by a virus and is highly contagious. The virus is spread through the air and especially if someone who is ill coughs or sneezes. You can protect yourself against flu by getting vaccinated.

Are some people recommended to get the vaccine?
Some people are recommended to get vaccinated. This is the case if you are at increased risk of becoming seriously ill, or if you need to protect someone close to you who has a severely weakened immune system.

It is important that you are vaccinated against flu, even if you have been vaccinated against covid-19.

At DentalArt we have nurses available to administer the flu vaccine for you. If you wish you can make an appointment in the following form or call us for more information: 932 237 198.

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Vaccine for people at increased risk of serious diseases
We advise you to get the vaccine if any of the following apply:

  • You want to avoid getting sick with flu.
  • You are 65 years of age or older.
  • You are pregnant after week 16.
  • You have a heart condition.
  • You have a lung disease, such as COPD or severe asthma.
  • You have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
  • You have a severely compromised immune system due to illness or treatment.
  • You have chronic liver or kidney failure.
  • You are severely overweight.
  • Has a neuromuscular disorder that affects breathing.
  • Has multiple disabilities.

Sometimes a doctor needs to assess whether you are at increased risk of becoming seriously ill from the flu.

Vaccination for those who need to protect another person
You are also advised to get vaccinated if you live with someone who has a severely compromised immune system.

Children and vaccines
Vaccination is recommended for children with certain serious illnesses and over six months of age.

Why should I be vaccinated?
We advise you to get vaccinated to avoid becoming seriously ill from the flu or an accompanying illness such as pneumonia.

Many people who get vaccinated avoid getting the flu. Most people who get the flu do not get as sick as they would without the vaccine.

Do you need to be vaccinated every year?
Once you have been vaccinated you are protected against this year’s flu strains. The protection lasts a maximum of one year and next year a new flu virus variant can cause the flu. Therefore it is necessary to get vaccinated every year to stay protected.

Is it recommended that everyone should be vaccinated?
No. There is little risk of becoming seriously ill if you are under 65 and do not have any of the illnesses or conditions for which a flu vaccination is recommended.
Some people want to be vaccinated anyway, to avoid getting sick with the flu. In this case, you may have to wait a while before getting vaccinated. This is so that those who are recommended to be vaccinated can do so first. You will have to pay for it yourself. Some workplaces offer free vaccination.

How to get vaccinated?
You get the flu vaccine through an injection. Most people get the injection in their upper arm. Children under three years of age usually get the vaccine in the thigh.
Adults and children over the age of eight get a shot when they get the flu vaccine.
A child between six months and eight years of age receives two doses at least four weeks apart if it is the first time he or she is vaccinated against the flu. If the child has been vaccinated before, one dose is enough.
The vaccination needs to be repeated every year.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant you may get more flu sick than if you were not pregnant. It is therefore recommended that you get a flu vaccination. The vaccine will also give your baby good protection as a newborn baby.
It is recommended that you are vaccinated after week 16 of your pregnancy. You can be vaccinated earlier if you also have a medical condition that makes you recommended for the vaccine for that reason. Talk to a midwife if you have any questions.
There is no risk in getting the flu vaccine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How do I feel afterwards?
You may feel a little red and swollen where you had the injection. You may also feel a little sore.
You may have a fever, headache and muscle aches. Babies may also have a poorer appetite and diarrhoea. The symptoms usually go away within one or two days.

When is vaccination unsuitable?
You should not have an ongoing infection or fever when you are vaccinated.
Consult a doctor if you are taking blood-thinning medicines.
Children younger than 6 months should not be vaccinated against flu.
Consult a doctor if you are allergic
Always consult a doctor before being vaccinated if you are allergic to chicken or chicken eggs. Flu vaccines always contain eggs. But the amounts are so small that the risk of an allergic reaction is small.
See a doctor if you know or think you are allergic to the preservatives in the vaccine.
Also consult a doctor if you have had an allergic reaction in the past after being vaccinated.

Vaccine as a nasal spray
The vaccine given as a nasal spray consists of a live attenuated influenza virus. Therefore, it should not be given to children and adolescents with a weakened immune system or to those who are pregnant. It should also not be given to children with severe asthma.

More about flu vaccination
The flu vaccine usually contains three or four different variants of the virus. This is because there can be several different outbreaks of different flu viruses in a year.

The World Health Organisation decides in February each year which viruses will be included in the vaccine for the next season. The World Health Organisation is usually shortened to WHO.

High-dose vaccine
The amount of vaccine in one dose varies. You are advised to get a dose containing more vaccines if you are 65 or older and live in a special nursing home. This is called a high-dose flu shot.

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