Flu season starts: Sufficient vaccine available

A doctor vaccinates a woman against the flu.

At the start of the flu season, sufficient vaccine is available for at-risk patients in Berlin. As the Senate Department for Health annoucned on Monday, the vaccination is currently offered by many primary care physicians, as well as in other medical practices.

"In addition, pharmacies throughout Berlin also offer these vaccinations," the statement said. Vaccinations protec against severe disease progression, Berlin's Senator for Health Ina Czyborra (SPD) said in the statement. "They can also prevent an overload of the health care system." From October to mid-December, experts advise vulnerable patient groups to get flu shots. The flu wave usually reaches its peak after the turn of the year. Experts expect a significantly noticeable flu wave to loom this winter.

Stiko: Vaccination not advisable for all

The Standing Commission on Vaccination (Stiko) does not advise all German citizens to get the annual flu shot. Only people over 60, pregnant women, children over six months, adults with certain pre-existing conditions, and people with a higher risk of contracting the flu due to their job, such as doctors and nurses. The groups overlap with the Stiko recommendation for the new adapted Coronavirus booster vaccination. Those who wish can therefore have both vaccines given at the same time. For people with Stiko recommendation, the vaccination is a mandatory benefit of the statutory health insurance and thus free of charge for insured persons, according to the Senate Administration.