This year, the country's regions have ordered more vaccines for the flu season, according to the Public Health Authority. Vaccine suppliers also have more preparedness and larger stockpiles of vaccines, all in order that there will be no shortage of vaccines, as was the case in Region Örebro county for a period last year, when more people than expected wanted to vaccinate.

Prioritize risk groups

The Public Health Authority then recommended that the regions prioritize those groups that were at risk of becoming seriously ill.

- We had ordered last year so that it would suffice, but did not receive everything we ordered. At that time, even the pharmaceutical companies were not prepared for this to be a shortcoming, and for a period we had to prioritize the groups that needed the vaccine most, says Gunlög Rasmussen, infection control physician in Region Örebro county.

- Then it ended up that everyone who wanted to get vaccinated, and that we even got vaccine over that had to be discarded, she adds.

"Healthy can handle the flu"

Again this year, she believes that the region has raised the needs it sees ahead of, and as usual, the risk groups are urged to vaccinate (see fact box). Anyone who does not belong to the risk groups can still choose to vaccinate.

- If you are a healthy person you can usually manage the flu and recover on your own. Then you have to decide for yourself if you are prepared to take a sick leave and be away from work, or if you want to vaccinate yourself to reduce the risk.

Great darkness

Last year, a total of 13,000 flu cases were detected in the country.

- But of course the dark figure is big. Far from anyone who is ill seeks out care, but does not recover as said on their own.