Get ready for the autumn/winter flu season

If you want to protect yourself against the flu by getting a vaccination, you should do so in October or November, so that your system has time to build up antibodies before the outbreak.

“What is seasonal influenza?

Seasonal influenza is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. It spreads easily by droplet transmission, e.g. through coughing or sneezing. It can also be spread through touch. The symptoms of seasonal influenza are a quickly rising and high temperature, severely aching muscles, shivering, tiredness, headache, feeling unwell and a severe cough. Because influenza is a viral illness, antibiotics are ineffective.

Seasonal influenza is a different disease from the common cold. In healthy people of working age, seasonal influenza usually involves a high temperature but can be treated at home. Some people, however, have a higher risk of suffering a serious illness which may even require hospital treatment.

A simple way of preventing influenza is to wash your hands thoroughly after going to the toilet, before meals, after blowing your nose and after being outside. It is also important to avoid touching your face with your fingers because viruses easily enter the mucous membranes of the respiratory system that way. Transmitting the disease to others can be prevented by coughing away from other people into a disposable handkerchief or into your sleeve.

Why is it worth having the vaccine?

Vaccination is the best prevention against influenza. The majority of people who have the injection do not catch influenza. If you do, however, catch influenza, it will usually be a milder case and quicker to recover from if you have had the injection. The protection takes about two weeks to be effective. Last year’s seasonal influenza injection will not protect against this year’s seasonal influenza.

The seasonal influenza vaccine is safe

Research has shown that the seasonal influenza vaccine is safe. After the injection, the site of the injection may redden and feel sore. Sometimes people who have had the injection suffer aching muscles or joints, headaches or a temperature. These symptoms will pass in a couple of days and can be treated with pain relievers. Other side-effects are rare. The vaccine does not contain living viruses so it cannot give you influenza. However, the seasonal influenza vaccine only protects against influenza. It does not protect against colds or other respiratory illnesses.

Is the influenza vaccine suitable for everyone?

The vaccine is suitable for almost everyone. If you are severely allergic to eggs or if you had an allergic reaction to a previous injection, you should first discuss with your nurse or doctor. You should not have the vaccine if you have a temperature. You can have the injection once your temperature is back to normal.

Auli Rytivaara

Head occupational health doctor

Mehiläinen Working Life Services”

This year, like last year, University of Helsinki employees have the opportunity to get a flu vaccination through occupational health care. If they choose to do so, they must pay for it themselves; the University covers the services of the occupational health nurse as an occupational health care expense.

Each employee should make an appointment with his or her own occupational health nurse.

The vaccine costs €9.50 at Mehiläinen and €11.03 at Terveystalo medical centres. For the prices of other occupational health care service providers, please contact your own occupational health nurse.

For those belonging to a high-risk group, we recommend that you get the vaccine in accordance with the vaccination guidelines of your own place of residence.

For more information, please contact

Occupational Wellbeing

Hannele Rönkkö

tel. 050 31 99 582

hannele.ronkko@helsinki.fi