A) Persons with an increased risk of complications from influenza. (The compulsory health insurance assumes the vaccination costs for this group provided the deductible rate (“franchise”)  has already been reached.)
They are:

– Persons from 65 years of age;

– Pregnant women and women who have given birth in the past 4 weeks;

– Premature babies (born before the 33rd week (< 32 0/7 GW) or weighing below 1500 g at birth) from the age of 6 months for the first two winters after birth*;

– Persons (from the age of 6 months*) with one of the following chronic conditions: heart disease; lung disease (e.g. bronchial asthma); metabolic disorders affecting the heart, lungs or kidneys (e.g. diabetes or morbid obesity, BMI ≥40); neurological (e.g. M. Parkinson disease, cerebrovascular disease) or musculoskeletal disease affecting the heart, lungs or kidneys; hepatopathy; renal failure; asplenia or spleen dysfunction (including haemoglobinopathies); immunodeficiency (e.g. HIV infection, cancer, immunosuppressive therapy);

B) Persons who come into regular contact within their family, in retirement or nursing homes and in institutions for persons with chronic diseases, or as part of their private or professional activities** with:

– Persons in category A);

– Infants under the age of 6 months (they have an increased risk of flu complications and cannot be vaccinated due to their young age).

The flu vaccination is particularly recommended for all health care professionals, all persons working in the paramedical field, staff of crèches, day nurseries, day-care centres, nursing homes for the elderly, as well as institutions for persons with chronic diseases, including students, interns and trainees.

C) Persons who come into regular contact with or work with poultry or wild birds, in order to reduce the frequency of seasonal influenza cases requiring differential diagnosis, as well as the risk of seasonal & avian double infection and the development of novel virus recombinants.

The seasonal flu vaccination can also be considered for all persons who wish to reduce their risk of influenza illness for private and/or professional reasons.

*    For children aged between 6 months and 8 years who have never received a flu vaccine before, the administration of two doses (4 weeks apart) is recommended in their first flu vaccination season.
(If Fluarix Tetra® is administered off-label to children < 36 months, they should only be given two half doses instead of two whole ones).

**  “Persons who come into regular contact” in category B) refers to children and adults between 6 months and 64 years of age. If flu vaccination is recommended for professional reasons, the cost of the vaccination are usually assumed by the employer.

Status: April 2023