ZAGREB, Sept 27, 2020 - Flu vaccinations in Croatia will start early this year, mid-October, due to the coronavirus epidemic, 590,000 doses of flu vaccine have been ordered, and a plan is being prepared to carry out vaccinations in adherence with all epidemiological measures.

"In January we ordered 460,000 doses of the vaccine, and now an additional 130,000 doses have been ordered. Soon, 560,000 doses should arrive, and 30,000 more in December. That is how many could be procured on the world market given the insufficient quantities of the flu vaccine," epidemiologist Branko Kolaric told Hina.

This is more than last year, when about 400,000 doses of the vaccine were ordered through the Croatian Health Insurance Institute (HZZO), said Kolaric.

Vaccination could start between October 15 and 20

He expects vaccination could start between October 15 and 20, which is three or four weeks earlier than last year.

Priority groups include people above the age of 65, health workers, staff in nursing homes, people with chronic diseases, and this year experts recommend getting vaccinated for the flu as a measure of protection against the coronavirus.

A plan is in preparation to carry out vaccination in adherence with epidemiological measures, and those belonging to risk groups should be vaccinated first, said Kolaric.

Flu epidemic accelerates the spread of coronavirus

A flu epidemic accelerates the spread of coronavirus, and if the two infections occur at the same time, we have a disease with a severe clinical picture, Kolaric said.

"In recent years, there has been an increase in the interest in vaccination, which had a downward trend in the 2000s due to the so-called anti-vaccination movement. This year, the interest is even stronger due to the coronavirus epidemic," he said

During the last flu season, which lasted until May 17 this year, Croatia recorded 59,725 cases of the infection. Last year's data show that the death toll from the flu was 117.

The flu vaccine is also available in pharmacies, its price is HRK 96.39 and it is in great demand, said president of the Croatian Chamber of Pharmacists (HLJK), Ana Soldo.

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ZAGREB, Sept 25, 2020 - The directors, Krunoslav Capak of the Croatian Institute for Public Health (HZJZ), and Alemka Markotic of the Infectious Diseases Hospital on Friday appealed to citizens to get vaccinated for the flu, underlining that in combination with the coronavirus it could cause serious complications.

A flu vaccine is arriving in the second week of October and this year we have secured 700,000 doses, said Capak presenting a public health education campaign - #PREVENTION and not #COMPLICATIONS on the occasion of World Pharmacists Day marked September 25.

The flu vaccine is not mandatory and its price this year is HRK 95 for a flu shot, however, citizens considered to be at risk can be vaccinated free of charge.

Capak is convinced that there will be a huge interest in flu vaccinations this winter considering that the entire world is asking for "an extra dose."

He added that the vaccine is not 100% efficient however it protects from serious complications 100% and it would be good for as many people to be vaccinated as possible.

Risk groups included people over the age of 65 and people with chronic diseases: heart, kidney, diabetics, pulmonary obstructions, oncology patients, and those with transplants, and anyone whose immune system has been compromised.

All health personnel has access to free vaccination as well as all personnel in aged care facilities. Other citizens will be required to pay vaccination costs.

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September the 24th, 2020 - The coronavirus pandemic is still holding the planet in its invisible yet devastating grip, and Croatia is busy preparing for the arrival of the dreaded influenza season and battling with the pandemic year.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 23rd of September, 2020, every year, Croatia orders more and more flu vaccines, and this year, which will be marked in memory as the pandemic year, we are waiting for the delivery of a total of 690,000 doses.

''To date, 460,000 doses of the flu vaccine have been ordered for the insured population, with an additional 130,000 of them which are due to arrive around December the 10th. There will also be 100,000 doses intended for pharmacies for sale. It will be sold for 68 kuna in pharmacies (op.a., price from Medoka). Vaccination against influenza starts around or after October the 15th,'' Marija Bubas, the assistant director of the Croatian Institute of Public Health told 24sata.

However, this is the first pandemic year in which the flu season will be mixed with the ongoing spread of the new coronavirus, so doctors recommend vaccination to everyone, especially to vulnerable groups. This will at least reduce the range of possible viruses they can contract. As always, it is recommended that chronic patients and the elderly be vaccinated against the flu.

The flu virus can cause a lot of issues for those people who are weaker and have more frequent complications, so when they contract the virus, viral or bacterial pneumonia can occur, which can ultimately mean a fatal outcome - explained the experienced infectologist Maja Capar.

No one is required to be vaccinated against the flu, but it is definitely recommended, especially during this pandemic year.

Capar describes how dangerous the flu can be:

''Although severe complications rarely occur, I remember our fellow nurse who also got encephalitis due to the flu, ie inflammation of the brain and ended up needing treatment in Zagreb. Fortunately, it all ended well and she recovered successfully,'' she recalled.

The measures that we must adhere to due to the coronavirus will help prevent both influenza and other viruses, Capar believes.

''These are all droplet infections that mostly spread in the same way. Until now, we've never worn masks, we've never kept a distance from each other and we've never disinfected our hands so regularly, and I believe that will prevent the spread of other viruses, not just the coronavirus,'' said Capar. Of the more than half a million doses of influenza vaccine mentioned, Zagreb alone expects a total of 85,000 doses.

The news is that this year, those who buy the vaccine at the pharmacy could be vaccinated immediately at the pharmacy, and not have to go to a doctor to have it done. This is a priority in all European countries because of the need to prevent the spread of the coronavirus infection.

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