2020/2021 flu season

The flu season 2020/2021 affects the illnesses with the virus flu in the period from autumn 2020 to spring 2021. It overlaps with the simultaneously existing COVID-19 pandemic . In the northern hemisphere, the season is usually the period between the 40th calendar week (beginning of October) and the 20th calendar week (mid-May). The actual wave usually starts in January and lasts three to four months.

Vaccination recommendations and strain adjustments

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) make recommendations annually, which form the basis for the production of the flu vaccines for the respective season. The Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) approves the annual strain adjustments for all nationally approved influenza vaccines in Germany. The approval of the strain adaptations for the vaccines authorized centrally in the European Union is carried out by the European Medicines Agency.

The WHO recommends for the composition of the flu vaccines for the 2020/2021 season:

Chicken egg vaccines:

A / Guangdong-Maonan / SWL1536 / 2019 ( H1N1 ) pdm09-like virus
A / Hong Kong / 2671/2019 (H3N2) -like virus
B / Washington / 02/2019-like virus (Victoria line)
B / Phuket / 3073/2013-like virus (Yamagata line)

Cell culture or recombinant vaccines:

A / Hawaii / 70/2019 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
A / HA / Hong Kong / 45/2019 (H3N2) -like virus
B / Washington / 02/2019-like virus (Victoria line)
B / Phuket / 3073/2013-like virus (Yamagata line)

Compared to the 2019/2020 season vaccines , all viruses have been replaced with the exception of subtype B Yamagata.

Situation in Germany

In 2020, the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) stuck to its position not to recommend a standard flu vaccination for the entire population.

According to the STIKO, vaccination is especially recommended for risk groups, including people over 60 years of age, all healthy pregnant women from the 2nd trimester , pregnant women with a chronic underlying disease from the 1st trimester, the chronically ill, employees of medical institutions and People who have professional contact with many people.

In Germany it has been discussed for a long time that in the group of people aged 60 and over the effectiveness of the flu vaccination decreases to 30 to 50%.

According to a survey by the daily newspaper Die Welt 2020, nine of the 26 statutory insurances surveyed pay all patients the flu vaccination, the others only pay the flu vaccination if the patient belongs to the known risk groups, of six private health insurers surveyed three pay all patients, the other three only relatives of the risk groups.

At the end of September 2020, the physician and member of the Bundestag Karl Lauterbach pleaded for free flu vaccinations for all insured persons.

Seven vaccines that have been approved and are being marketed are available for use in Germany. These are quadruple vaccines (tetravalent): By September 25, 2020, around 18.1 million vaccine doses were released in Germany.

Afluria Tetra 2020/2021
Flucelvax Tetra 2020/2021
Fluenz Tetra 2020/2021
Influsplit Tetra 2020/2021
Influvac Tetra 2020/2021
Vaxigrip Tetra 2020/2021
Xanaflu Tetra 2020/2021

Situation in Austria

The Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection recommended based on the results of the National Impfgremiums the influenza vaccination for all adults, especially for people over the age of 60, chronically ill, persons with other risk factors as well as personnel in healthcare and care for the elderly . Regarding the question of costs, it said: “Grants or free vaccinations are available from individual employers and social security agencies and in some federal states and selected vaccination campaigns. However, the vaccination for adults is not generally made available free of charge. ”The state of Upper Austria recommended vaccination for children and adolescents from the age of 6 months (especially those who attend social institutions), people with chronic illnesses, people from the age of 65 , Health and care workers, community facility workers, and pregnant women.

In 2020, the flu vaccination for children up to their 15th birthday was included in the federal children's free vaccination program.

The City of Vienna procured 400,000 vaccine doses by the end of September 2020. The medical association and the municipality of Vienna agreed that the vaccinations should be free. The vaccination program started on October 1st. You need to register and bring your e-card and photo ID with you .

Approved funds include: