Public healthcare in the Czech Republic is under increasing pressure, and experts are searching for solutions to alleviate the strain on the system. One option is to increase vaccination rates among adults, which would lead to fewer cases of illness and a reduced burden on healthcare services in the long term.
With growing pressure on public healthcare, experts are looking for ways to ease the burden on the system. One suggestion is to increase adult immunisation rates, which would result in fewer adults requiring medical attention. For instance, flu vaccination rates have long been low in the Czech Republic, and the proportion of people questioning the value of vaccinations is rising.
According to a report by the news portal novinky.cz, experts agree that the Czech Republic still has significant untapped potential in the area of prevention, including vaccination against influenza and serious diseases caused by streptococci, shingles, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and other pathogens.
The percentage of people over the age of 18 who are vaccinated against these diseases is generally in the single digits. For flu vaccinations, the figure is around eight percent. Among senior citizens, who belong to the risk group and thus have the vaccine covered by their health insurance, less than a quarter are vaccinated.
According to the State Institute of Health (Státní zdravotní ústav), around 1,500 people die from these diseases every year, with at least some of these deaths potentially preventable.
However, public confidence in the safety and importance of vaccinations has fallen significantly in the Czech Republic following the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to experts, vaccine refusal does not represent the main barrier to a higher vaccination rate. In addition to the general practitioner, with whom 43 per cent of people regularly consult about vaccinations, there is also the option to have vaccinations administered in pharmacies. This eliminates the need to make an appointment and visit the doctor, significantly simplifying the vaccination process.
