This conclusion is based on research with data from hospitals, laboratories, the GGD test streets and the Nivel Sentinel Stations, a national network of general practices. Although the flu epidemic is over, people can still get the flu.
About the flu epidemic
The flu epidemic started in March this year. This is special, because a flu epidemic usually starts in December or January. It is probably due to the measures against the spread of the coronavirus, which were in effect in the Netherlands until the beginning of 2022, and which also work against the spread of the flu virus. The flu epidemic lasted about 13 weeks. That is longer than the 9 weeks that a flu epidemic lasts on average in the Netherlands, although the current flu season is difficult to compare with previous flu seasons due to the corona pandemic.
flu shot
The flu shot given last flu season turned out to work better than expected. Preliminary data showed that the flu shot offered 36 percent protection against infection with the flu virus type A. In the Netherlands, the flu virus type A (H3N2) was most common last flu season. The effectiveness of the flu shot against specific type A flu virus was 35 percent. These percentages relate to protection against an infection with the flu virus in patients who visit their GP for this purpose.
Preventing the flu
Although the flu epidemic is over, there are still people who get the flu. Nivel: “Influenza viruses are very contagious and mainly spread through coughing and sneezing. By regularly washing your hands, coughing and sneezing into your elbow and by keeping your distance, you reduce the chance that you will transmit the virus to others. Keep this in mind. especially in contact with vulnerable groups of people, because they can become seriously ill from the flu virus.”