By NewsDesk  @bactiman63

The Swedish Public Health Agency, or Folkhälsomyndigheten is recommending vaccination against influenza and pneumococci, and due to the current pandemic, vaccination is extra important.

Image/huntlh

On Tuesday, officials reported this year’s vaccinations against seasonal flu will begin throughout the country.

Vaccination is mainly recommended for those who are at risk of becoming seriously ill. These include pregnant women, people who are 65 years or older and people with certain chronic diseases such as chronic heart or lung disease. Care and nursing staff who work close to people in the risk group are also recommended to be vaccinated.

Vaccination against influenza is even more important this year, because during the winter, both COVID-19 and influenza will circulate. It is almost the same risk groups that risk severe disease from these infections, and vaccination is the best way we have to protect them from serious illness and death, says AnnaSara Carnahan, epidemiologist at the Swedish Public Health Agency.

Officials also recommends that people who are at increased risk of severe pneumococcal disease be vaccinated.

Pneumococci are bacteria that can cause serious infections such as pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. People who are 65 years and older, people with weakened immune systems or with certain chronic diseases have an increased risk of getting serious pneumococcal disease and are therefore recommended to get vaccinated.

The risk groups are partly the same as the risk groups for influenza, so if you belong to a risk group for pneumococcal disease and have not been vaccinated before, it is advisable to take the vaccine in connection with the vaccination against seasonal influenza, health officials note.