Autumn time - flu season

How can I prevent a cold?
Take advantage of the current glorious sunny days to spend a lot of time in the fresh air. The weather is expected to turn more autumnal at the end of this week. Even if it gets colder and wetter outside, you should use daily exposure to fresh air with suitable clothing and dry shoes 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, which 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 family doctor or health centre.

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 (in 10 to 14 days). A "wave of illness" is not expected before the end of 2017/beginning of 2018. Vaccination protection, which incidentally must be refreshed annually, usually lasts well into the first half of 2018.

How long can I be vaccinated for?
The vaccine lasts for an entire season, i.e. until spring. Vaccination is carried out until February, for individuals also in March.

Who can be vaccinated?
Children can be vaccinated against influenza from the age of 6 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) should be vaccinated. In addition, women who are pregnant during the influenza season should be vaccinated from the second trimester of pregnancy, in the case of additional health risks from the first trimester of pregnancy and residents of retirement and nursing homes.

When is it better not to vaccinate?
The flu vaccination should be postponed for people who have a cold until they are healthy again. A medical history form is completed before the vaccination, after which the vaccinator decides whether 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?
In addition to general practitioners and company doctors, the City of Chemnitz Health Department will be offering vaccinations from 19 October at the following times:

Monday: 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 3.30pm
Thursday: 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 3.30pm
Location: Am Rathaus, Room 240