
Flu Danger in Autumn Months
With the arrival of autumn, temperatures have started to drop, which has paved the way for the spread of many diseases such as the flu. The flu vaccine has been available for sale in pharmacies as of September. Citizens who want to get the flu vaccine, which is not included in the SGK payment list, can obtain the vaccine by paying for it at pharmacies.
Flu Vaccine Prices Increased by 128 Percent!
Flu is a contagious disease that can affect individuals of all ages and genders. One of the most effective methods in the fight against flu is the flu vaccine. In 2023, the price of the flu vaccine was determined as 245 lira. However, as of 2024, the price of the flu vaccine has increased by 128% and has been updated to 560 lira. Citizens will be able to get the flu vaccine from pharmacies at this price.
Who Can Get a Free Flu Vaccine?
SGK announced the groups that can get the flu vaccine free of charge. The following people can benefit from the free flu vaccine:
- Individuals aged 65 and over
- People living in nursing homes and retirement homes
- Pregnant women (from the 13th week of pregnancy until birth)
- Adults and children with certain chronic diseases
Flu Vaccine Protection Lasts 6 to 8 Months
Şule Dilek Yağcı Tüysüz, President of the Pharmacists Entrepreneur Association (PGED), He emphasized that flu can be prevented with vaccination and antiviral drugs. “The most difficult days for the patient are usually experienced in the first 3-4 days. The flu virus becomes contagious between the first 24 and 72 hours, so individuals can transmit the virus to others before they get sick,” he said.
Tüysüz stated that seasonal flu cases affect millions of people in Turkey and around the world every year, resulting in many hospitalizations and deaths. “The most effective way to protect against flu is the flu vaccine. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health reiterate the importance of vaccination every year. Even in non-pandemic periods, the only way to protect against flu is vaccination.”
Since the flu virus is constantly changing, it can differ from the virus seen in the previous year. Since the immune system does not recognize the virus, millions of people catch the flu every year. For this reason, vaccines are renewed every year and 3-4 subgroups of viruses seen in the previous year are added to the vaccine. Although flu vaccines are reliable, they do not provide 100% protection; however, they help a person develop immunity against many types of flu and reduce the likelihood of getting sick. Although vaccines can be given at any time, the recommended vaccination period is September and October. Approximately two weeks after vaccination, a person becomes immune to the current influenza virus. The effect of the vaccines lasts between 6 and 8 months.
Tüysüz stated that children can also get the flu vaccine, “Children can be vaccinated starting at 6 months. They need to receive two doses of vaccine per year, 9 weeks apart, until they are 4 years old. For adults, a single dose of vaccine per year is sufficient.” He spoke in the form of.
Who Should Get the Flu Vaccine?
- children under 5
- Adults 65 and older
- Health workers
- Pregnant women or women in the 2-week postpartum period
- Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities
- asthma patients
- Those with neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., cerebral palsy, epilepsy, stroke, intellectual disability)
- Chronic lung disease (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Heart disease (e.g. congenital heart disease)
- Blood disorders (e.g. sickle cell disease)
- Endocrine disorders (e.g. diabetes mellitus)
- Kidney diseases
- Liver diseases
- Metabolic disorders (e.g. inherited metabolic disorders)
- Individuals with weakened immune systems (e.g. HIV, AIDS, cancer)
- Children under 19 years of age receiving long-term aspirin therapy
- Individuals with extreme obesity (body mass index [BMI] 40 and above)