Autumn time - flu season

How can I prevent a cold?
Make the most of the remaining sunny days by spending a lot of time in the fresh air. The weather is now set to turn more autumnal. Even if it is getting colder and wetter outside, you should use daily exposure to fresh air with suitable clothing and dry footwear to strengthen your immune system. Regular visits to the sauna, a healthy, vitamin-rich diet and a balanced fluid intake will also help. Drinking mineral water, tea, juices and spritzers also keeps the nasal mucous membranes moist. This provides better protection against infection from cold or flu viruses. If you also follow simple hygiene rules, many infections can be avoided. These include washing your hands regularly and avoiding coughing and sneezing. It is best to sneeze into the crook of your arm and not into your hands and also use disposable tissues.

What should I do if I do fall ill?
You should not stay at work out of false ambition (and infect others), but should instead cure yourself thoroughly at home. You should also strictly adhere to the doctor's instructions, i.e. in most cases you should rest in bed, treat the symptoms with the appropriate medication and avoid contact with healthy people by shaking hands, sneezing or coughing.

When is the best time to get a flu jab?
Currently, the best time to get a flu (influenza) vaccination is at your GP.

Why?
There are still few colds and acute upper respiratory tract infections that would prevent vaccination. And there is still enough time for vaccination protection to build up before the start of the typical cold season (after approx. 14 days). A "wave of illness" is not expected before the end of 2018/beginning of 2019. Vaccination protection, which incidentally must be refreshed annually, usually lasts well into the first half of 2019.

How long can I be vaccinated for?
The vaccine lasts for an entire season, i.e. until spring. Vaccinations are usually given during the infection-free period and also later on a case-by-case basis.

Who can be vaccinated?
Children can be vaccinated against influenza from the age of 7 months. The public health department recommends having this vaccination carried out by the paediatrician treating your child.

Which groups of people are particularly recommended to be vaccinated?
Especially older people and people who come into contact with many others at work. (e.g. nursery school teachers, teachers, nurses and carers) should be vaccinated. In addition, women who are pregnant during the influenza season should be vaccinated from the second trimester of pregnancy, or from the first trimester if there are additional health risks, as well as residents of retirement and nursing homes.

When is it better not to be vaccinated?
The flu vaccination should be postponed for people who have a cold until they are well again. A medical history form is completed before the vaccination, after which the vaccinator decides whether or not to vaccinate.

Can I be vaccinated at any time?
It is perfectly possible to catch up on outstanding vaccinations against influenza (flu jab) at your GP or at the public health department even during the influenza season. Provided the family and work environment is still infection-free.

Is flu dangerous?
Real flu (influenza) is a serious illness that affects the entire body, starts very suddenly without any symptoms and can take a dramatic course. The respiratory tract (pneumonia), the cardiovascular system (myocarditis) and the entire organism (septic multi-organ failure) can be severely affected. People with pre-existing conditions are particularly at risk.

Who offers flu vaccinations?
Flu vaccinations with the current seasonal quadruple vaccine are currently available at Chemnitz doctors' surgeries. In view of the number of cases of the latest wave of influenza, public health officer Dr Harald Uerlings advises people to get immunised in autumn, preferably at their GP, company doctor or paediatrician.

Due to staff shortages, the public health department can only offer limited vaccination times for people without a GP on the following campaign days:

• Tuesday, 23 October 2018
• Tuesday, 13 November 2018
• Tuesday, 11 December 2018

from 8 am to 11 am and 1 pm to 3 pm.