BAG now recommends flu vaccination, even in case of contact with birds

The Federal Office for Public Health (BAG) now also recommends the flu vaccination for people who have regular contact with poultry or wild birds. This is intended to prevent simultaneous contamination with a bird flu virus and a human flu virus.

From mid-October, the flu vaccination will be recommended for all people with an increased risk of complications aged six months or older and their close contacts, the Federal Office for Public Health (BAG) announced on Thursday. This includes people with chronic diseases such as respiratory or heart disease, pregnant women, premature children and anyone aged 65 and over.

According to the BAG, people who come into close contact professionally or privately with people with an increased risk of complications should also be vaccinated. According to the BAG, this mainly concerns people who are part of the same household as medical and nursing staff, but also employees of daycare centers and retirement and nursing homes. According to the BAG, family members of infants under six months of age should also be vaccinated. Babies have an increased risk of complications, but cannot yet be vaccinated themselves.

People who are at particular risk should also be vaccinated against Covid-19 to protect themselves against serious diseases, as the BAG further writes. The two vaccinations could be administered at the same time.

The BAG points out that for people with an increased risk of complications, a vaccination is usually reimbursed by the mandatory health insurance if the deductible has already been exhausted. Everyone else would have to pay for the vaccination themselves.

This year marks the 20th time that National Flu Vaccination Day takes place. On Friday, November 10, those who wanted to be vaccinated could get vaccinated in many doctors’ practices and pharmacies throughout Switzerland without prior registration at a recommended flat rate of 30 francs.

(saw/sda)