Flu vaccination with/without a prescription started in Greece on Nov 1

Vaccinations against the flu and thus without a medical prescription started in Greece on Wednesday, November 1st, 2023.

The flu vaccine is free of charge to citizens who can seek it directly from the pharmacy with their social security number (AMKA).

The conventional flu vaccine will be administered without a medical prescription.

This year, in addition to the conventional vaccines, there are also two new types, which are aimed exclusively at people over 60 and 65 years old, respectively and which are granted only after medical advice, reported healthreport.gr.

After November 1, the two new expensive anti-influenza vaccines that were included this year for the first time in the National Immunization Program and which are intended exclusively for those over 65 years of age, will continue to be administered with a doctor’s prescription.

Flu shots: Who should be vaccinated?

According to the National Vaccination Program in Greece, the influenza vaccination recommendations for the upcoming season 2023/24 include the following population groups as a matter of priority:

1. People aged 60 and over.

2. Children (6 months and older) and adults with one or more of the following aggravating factors or chronic diseases:

• Chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Heart disease with severe hemodynamic disturbance.
• Immunosuppression (hereditary or acquired).
• Organ transplantation and bone marrow transplantation.
• Sickle cell anemia (and other hemoglobinopathies).
• Diabetes mellitus or other chronic metabolic disease.
• Chronic kidney disease.
  Chronic liver diseases.
• Neurological – neuromuscular diseases.
• Down syndrome.

3. Pregnant women, regardless of gestational age, lactating and lactating women.

4. People with morbid obesity (Body Mass Index >40Kg/m2) and children with BMI >95thETH.

5. Children taking aspirin long-term (e.g. for Kawasaki disease, rheumatoid arthritis and others).

6. People who are in close contact with children younger than six months or care for or live with people with an underlying illness, which increases the risk of flu complications.

7. People living in closed facilities such as staff and internal students (of schools, military and police academies, special schools), recruits, institutions for the chronically ill and, accommodation units for the elderly, detention centres.

8. Workers in places where health services are provided (medical and nursing staff, other workers, students of health professions in clinical training) and in accommodation centres for refugees and immigrants.

9. Homeless.

10. Veterinarians, poultry farmers, pig farmers, breeders, slaughterers and general people who come into systematic contact with birds or pigs.

Flu Vaccine Administration and Covid-19

The flu vaccine can even be given on the same day as the coronavirus vaccine, but at different anatomical sites – just like any other day before and after the coronavirus vaccine.

Asymptomatic persons who have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and have a negative laboratory test can be vaccinated normally.

Symptomatic patients with COVID-19 infection or other respiratory infections should postpone their vaccination until symptoms of the disease have resolved. (via helathreport.gr)

General note: in case of doubt, seek your doctor’s advice.