Sufficient vaccine is available in Saxony before the start of the flu season. There are currently no supply bottlenecks, as the Ministry of Health announced on request. The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut regularly provides information about possible supply problems on its website. There are currently 17.6 million doses of influenza vaccines released in Germany.
According to the Saxon Pharmacists' Association, the number of doses released is therefore on a par with the previous year. "According to our information, however, doctors have pre-ordered fewer vaccine doses," said a spokeswoman. The association is therefore assuming a decline in the vaccination rate. Patients can currently be supplied with the appropriate medication, it said.
Currently still few influenza cases in Saxony
The best time for a flu vaccination is between the beginning of November and mid-December, according to the Ministry of Health. According to a ministry spokesperson, it is not possible to predict the course of an influenza season. However, the seasonal flu wave usually occurs after the turn of the year - and reaches its peak in January or February.
Currently, the number of influenza cases is still low. In the first week of September, 14 infections were reported, followed by 11 the following week. According to ministry figures, 44,428 cases of influenza were reported in the state between October 2024 and mid-April 2025. 192 people were confirmed to have died from influenza.
Vaccination rate in Saxony is relatively low
The Saxon Vaccination Commission Advisory Board (SIKO Advisory Board) generally recommends the annual flu vaccination for all people from the age of seven months - but especially for people with a weak immune system, the chronically ill and medical and nursing staff.
From October 1, the joint vaccination center of the city of Chemnitz and the local hospital will focus on vaccinations against coronavirus and influenza for three months. Anyone wishing to be vaccinated at the hospital must make an appointment beforehand, the city announced.
According to the ministry, the flu vaccination rate in Saxony averaged around 20 percent at the end of last year. In the 60+ age group, the European Union's vaccination target is 75 percent. This has not been achieved in Saxony, it said. In the Free State, the vaccination rate for 60 to 69-year-olds was most recently 28.2 percent, and just under 45 percent for 70 to 79-year-olds.
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