Category: Archive

   Život so smartfónom môže byť niekedy komplikovaný a nudný. Preto sme zobrali najprevratnejšie funkcie našej vlajkovej lode HTC One a zabalili ich do kompaktnejšieho tela. Napriek jemnému vzhľadu je nový HTC One mini skutočným dravcom medzi smartfónmi. Od jeho super jemného 4,3″ displeja nebudete vedieť odtrhnúť oči.

   Vďaka prevratnej technológii UltraPixel vytvoríte dych vyrážajúce zábery a to aj za zhoršených svetelných podmienok. Zábery z osláv už nikdy nebudú vyzerať ako rozmazané machule. Poznáte situácie, keď pri fotení skupiny priateľov niekto v momente zosnímania záberu žmurkne. S prevratnou technológiou HTC Zoe sa vám to už nestane. V okamihu stlačenia spúšte telefón natočí 3-sekundové video a zosníma až 20 fotografií. Tie následne môžete skombinovať do jednej fotografie a vytvoriť tak dokonalý záber.

Ohromujúci pocit sa k vám dostane pri spustení hudby či filmu, a to práve vďaka dvojici stereo reproduktorov, umiestnených na prednej strane telefónu a smerujúcich priamo na vás. HTC BoomSound vás očarí hlasným a krištáľovo čistým zvukom, najlepším aký ste kedy zo smartfónu počuli. Či už je to hudba, filmy alebo online videá, s HTC One mini sa budete vždy cítiť ako by ste boli v centre diania.

   Sledujete s obľubou posledné módne trendy alebo vás zaujíma zdravý životný štýl? Sú pre vás dôležité aj správy zo sveta biznisu či hudba a filmy? Stačí si v HTC BlinkFeed vybrať kategórie, ktoré vás zaujímajú a na displeji vášho HTC One mini vždy uvidíte tie najčerstvejšie relevantné informácie. A navyše si môžete pridať vaše obľúbené sociálne siete, čím vám neunikne žiadny dôležitý status vašich priateľov. Čerstvé správy a novinky zo sociálnych sietí budete mať krásne a prehľadne usporiadané na domovskej obrazovke.

Ronald L. Nelson is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Avis Budget Group, Inc., a leading global provider of car rental services, operating under the Avis and Budget brands with 10,000 locations in approximately 175 countries worldwide. Prior to his time at Avis Budget, Mr. Nelson served as President, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Cendant Corporation, where he was primarily responsible for strategic and financial planning, financial management, financial reporting and accounting, internal audit, tax, investor relations and corporate communications, as well as administrative functions serving Cendant’s business units. Cendant was the parent company of Avis Budget, which was spun off as an independent public company. Prior to joining Cendant Corporation, he served as a Managing Director of DreamWorks SKG since its inception in 1994, where he helped raise $5 billion in capital to launch the company and establish its operational infrastructure and strategy. Mr. Nelson also served as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Paramount Communications, Inc., formerly Gulf & Western Industries, Inc., where he was responsible for all finance functions, including mergers and acquisitions and corporate strategy.

   1. You came to AVIS from another sector. How do you perceive this change?

   RLN: I am fortunate to have a broad range of entrepreneurial and Fortune 500 experience, from being part of building multi-billion dollar businesses at DreamWorks and Paramount to disrupting them at Cendant. There is no substitute for experience in the skills that are required when you lead an organization. I feel that this diverse experience has prepared me well for the challenges we have faced at Avis Budget Group over the years.

   2. What is it like to manage a colossus like Avis Budget Group?

   RLN: It may seem modest when you think that the decisions you make can affect the lives of so many people around the world, but you can't let that distract you from doing what's right for all stakeholders.

   3. What do you like most about your job?

   RLN: Daily interaction with such a diverse, talented, and hard-working group of people from all over the world who do such amazing things every day for the benefit of our customers and shareholders.

   4. What does your workday look like?

   RLN: Lots of meetings, phone conversations with investors, analyzing financial reports, communicating with banks... Very interesting things.

   5. What changes do you expect in the car rental sector in the next 5 years?

   RLN: Carpooling will continue to grow globally because it is a good solution for many people who are not already using it as a transportation option. This will also bring a number of manufacturers back into the car rental game after most of them exited the industry in recent years. We are also seeing an increase in international travel, driven by newer markets like India and China. And we will continue to see big changes in our products and services driven by advances and innovation in technology. But nothing will ever replace great customer service provided by people for customers.

   6. Two years ago you merged the ownership of AVIS Europe with the parent company in the US. What was the main goal, what did you expect from it?

 RLN: As an independent international company, we are better able to offer our customers a consistently superior rental experience around the world. We are better able to create consistent and differentiated brand value. We are better able to capitalize on fast-growing travel markets like China and India. And we have greater manufacturing efficiencies, which gives us greater lending power and negotiating leverage. All of this creates a much stronger platform for sustained profitable growth than the company could achieve on its own.

   7. Do you think the car rental market is already consolidated or is it still undergoing changes? How will they affect the future?

  RLN: I think the consolidation period for larger US brands is probably over due to regulatory constraints. In the rest of the world, I expect some consolidation to continue, mostly in the form of smaller value brands acquired by larger companies looking to expand their global footprint or diversify their brand portfolio.

   8. Over the past 3 years, the company's shares have jumped 3,000 times since 2009. Do you think it can achieve even more? How?

  RLN: If we can continue to drive accelerated growth in our most profitable channels, while doing everything we can to reduce the growth in fleet costs and our costs in general, I believe we will continue to have unhindered growth potential. If we continue in this direction, I expect the market to recognize that in our share price. But of course there are a number of things that can affect share prices that may be beyond our control, such as major economic downturns in various parts of the world.

   9. What drives you forward, what is your biggest motivation?

   RLN: Constantly improving all things… Striving and being better every day as a person, as a leader, as a husband and father.

   10. Everyone has their own recipe for success, what is yours?

   RLN: Treating people with respect. I believe that when you show respect, it comes back to you, and that is the foundation for accomplishing almost anything that needs to be accomplished within an organization and in life.

Vladimir Orth

   The wise words that life should be enjoyed and not just survived are more relevant in today's busy times than ever before. And only those who have already sat in the auditorium of the Slovak National Theatre have felt the true uniqueness of live contact with art. Treat yourself to a truly original well-being during cold evenings with your family, friends, or loved ones at the great performances of our first stage. Thrilling stories, fantastic singing performances and captivating beauty of movement await you.

Documentary drama is very popular with audiences abroad. You can already find this genre in the attractive offer of the Slovak National Theatre. From mid-November, events that took place in Slovakia and concern corruption, cronyism and the so-called shadow economy will be played out on the national stage. The main heroine of the production Carpathian thriller is a middle-aged journalist who left her original profession because she found no meaning in it and founded an advertising agency. One day, however, she comes across material indicating widespread corruption at the highest levels of the state apparatus. A certain company, thanks to bribery, began to win all large state contracts, which were several times more expensive than abroad and the competition. Her former professional instinct wins in the journalist, she tries to make the case public, but she encounters the extremely sophisticated and harsh defensive tactics of the company, which does not hesitate to use disgustingly contrived intimidation methods against her and her friends. The powerful story will be told on the stage of the Slovak National Theatre by Zuzana Fialová, Petra Vajdová, Dušan Jamrich, Leopold Haverl, Jozef Vajda, Ľubomír Paulovič, Ján Gallovič, Milan Ondrík and the latest addition to the SND Drama Theatre – the talented actor Daniel Fischer.

   The long-awaited premiere on the first drama stage will also be the production Madame Bovary, which will premiere a few days after Carpathian Thriller. Táňa Pauhofová, Ľuboš Kostelný, Tomáš Maštalír, Alexander Bárta, Anna Javorková, Jana Oľhová, Marián Geišberg, František Kovár, Robert Roth, Richard Stanke, Ivan Vojtek, Michal Režný and Ivana Kubačková will lend their faces to the characters in the story of Madame Emma Bovary. A beautiful woman who marries a doctor, but their marriage is not happy. Although he is good and kind, he does not realize that unless he finds a way to make his other half happy, he exposes her to the temptation to seek happiness with someone else...

It would be hard to find a person who would not know the famous aria La dona è mobile, which is also heard in an advertisement for a famous pizza. Perhaps fewer people already know that Giuseppe Verdi composed it for his opera Rigoletto, which has expanded the high-quality repertoire of the Slovak National Theatre. The story of the court jester is also told by tenor Tomáš Juhás on stage. The soloist of the SND Opera has set his sights on a global career. In November, his steps will be directed to the renowned Metropolitan Opera in New York. For more than five weeks, he will be doing a so-called cover for the world-famous tenor Roland Villazón. In practice, this means that if Villazón is unable to sing, for example due to health problems, Juhás will replace him at the same level.

   The penultimate month of this year will be associated with another opera treat, served up by the Slovak National Theatre. Viewers will be able to enjoy the world premiere of the opera Dorian Gray Ľubica Čekovská, who is about to make her operatic debut. In her Dorian, the young Slovak composer deals with disturbing questions about the physical and mental forms of beauty and evil.

   Before Christmas, the atmosphere of the most beautiful holiday of the year will be enhanced by the premiere of a children's ballet The NutcrackerThe youngest viewers and their parents will be able to embark on a fairy tale journey together through stories performed by soloists and members of the choir of the Slovak National Theatre Ballet.

Skalica is a city known not only in Slovakia, but also far beyond its borders. It is admired for its wines, delicious Skalica trdelník, rich history and valuable historical monuments. Personally, I am convinced that it is also gaining favor thanks to the atmosphere, hospitality and a diverse range of activities that tourists can try in Skalica. And just three years ago, golf was added to the list of leisure activities offered by the city.

Katarína Chovancová for UnitedLife

   For those who have not been to Skalica yet and are planning to, but also for those who have not heard of the course – Skalica is the first urban golf resort in Slovakia with a full-fledged infrastructure of an 18-hole course, located in the wine-growing part of the free royal city of Skalica. The Skalica course offers golfers the best training areas in the country, a pleasant homely atmosphere, beautiful views of the Skalica vineyards and of course a top-quality course that is a challenge for all age and handicap categories. Since we have moved into the last third of this year, I think it is the right time to recapitulate and evaluate the slowly ending 2013 season.

   From my perspective as a domestic player and a player with a plus handicap, the season in Skalica was different from the previous one. The first reason for this statement is the quality of the course. The greens were a stable 9 feet not only during tournaments, but also during the season, which I appreciated especially when preparing for valuable foreign tournaments. My second reason was the decision and subsequent implementation of the water well. All golfers who played in Skalica last summer and found their way there this summer must agree with me that it was an incomparable difference. The third reason for my bold statement is the riffles. The decision to let them grow was, in my view, one of the best that could have been made. Not only did the course get new contours thanks to them, but it also became much more attractive for the game. Even the player on the tee realizes that it is not enough to just stand up, hit and "I'll find it somewhere". He has to think a lot more, play tactically, choose different sticks and maybe even change his game strategy compared to last season.

   The Skalické course organized countless commercial tournaments throughout the year. It was the organizer of the Slovak Junior Championship, the Slovak Senior Championship, association tournaments, and hosted the prestigious PilsnerUrquell Czech PGA Tour, which, in addition to professionals from all over Europe, also allowed Slovak amateur players to participate.

   However, what the course had been preparing for all year was the tournament under the auspices of the European Golf Association (EGA), the European Boy's Challenge Trophy 2013. 11 countries, including Slovakia, participated in the tournament and the top three qualified for next year's European Boys' Championship under 18. I participated in this tournament as a referee and one day as a starter. Personally, I consider this tournament not only a very interesting experience, but also a great one.

   This was the first time I participated in a tournament like this, not as a player, but as part of the organizing team. The entire tournament took place in a peaceful atmosphere and despite the lower temperatures, the weather was kind to the players, the field was in top condition and everything went without the slightest problem. Not only the players, but also the captains of the individual teams confirmed that the tournament was a success beyond expectations and that everyone was extremely satisfied.

Behind the success of the entire tournament is the entire greenkeeping team of Vojtech Mrňa, the referees led by the head referee Ján Peč II., the entire team of Golf Resort Skalica and especially every single volunteer who decided to come and help in their free time.

Photo: archive Golf Resort Skalica

Každý by mal mať príležitosť rozvíjať seba, svoje schopnosti, vzdelanie a nadanie. Avšak vieme, že talent a nadanie samé o sebe niekedy nestačia a na rozvoj týchto daností sú potrebné aj peniaze. Preto chceme prostredníctvom našich programov podporiť takéto aktivity finančne. Nadácia United Philanthropy (UP) chce pomáhať ľuďom, ktorí majú záujem v živote niečo dosiahnuť a zároveň sú ochotní na sebe pracovať a rozvíjať to, v čom sú dobrí.

1. Program VUP: podpora vzdelávania, najmä vo vzťahu k mladým a nadaným študentom formou vyplácania štipendií
2. Program ZUP: rozvoj a zlepšovanie kvality zdravotnej starostlivosti
3. Program ŠUP: podpora športových aktivít mládeže
4. Program KUP: podpora rozvoja a ochrany kultúrnych hodnôt
5. Program HUP: ochrana ľudských práv a iných humanitárnych cieľov

   Program VUP: Uvedomujeme si zásadný význam vzdelania pre jednotlivca i celú spoločnosť. Preto naším prvotným a prvoradým nadačným programom bude program „Vzdelanie UP“, ktorý bude dlhodobo podporovať aktivity v tejto oblasti. Ľudský potenciál je najväčším kapitálom spoločnosti a podpora vzdelávacích projektov môže výrazne prispieť ku kvalitatívnej zmene celej spoločnosti. Chceme pomôcť odstraňovať ekonomické a geografické bariéry pri získavaní vedomostí a napomôcť rozvoju jednotlivcov a tým aj celej spoločnosti. Cieľom našej činnosti je podpora mladých ľudí, ktorí majú ambíciu naplno využiť svoj potenciál, rozvíjať svoj talent a aktívne hľadajú spôsoby vzdelávania nad rámec bežného štúdia.

   Program ZUP: Jedine zdravý jedinec, telesne i duševne, je schopný naplno rozvíjať svoj talent, nadanie a schopnosti a prispievať tak k naplneniu základného ľudského poslania – dosiahnuť šťastie tak pre seba, ako aj pre svojich najbližších, či ostatných ľudí. Našou snahou bude aj podpora projektov zameraných predovšetkým na udržanie a ochranu existujúceho zdravia jednotlivca a tiež na preventívne predchádzanie a skoré odhaľovanie ochorení.

    Program ŠUP: Šport, zdravá súťaživosť zbavená jednoznačnej snahy byť „nad druhým“, ale snaha byť aktívny a súťažiť s druhým, sú prioritou našej podpory športových aktivít detí a mládeže. Vzdelaný jedinec so „zdravým duchom“ si potrebuje športom udržať nielen zdravú a funkčnú telesnú schránku, ale aj spoznať a vedieť adekvátne zhodnotiť a riešiť víťazné situácie i prehry. Preto máme snahu podporovať športové aktivity na amatérskej úrovni, ako aj alternatívne športové aktivity.

    Program KUP: Vzdelaný, zdravý a športovo úspešný môže byť v dnešnej dobe už i počítač, či robot. Až kultúra a kultivovanosť z nás robí osobnosti a skutočne „veľkých ľudí“. Zdá sa nám, že dnešná spoločnosť, často pretechnizovaná, uponáhľaná a hľadiaca len po rentabilite či rýchlom zisku, zabúda na potrebu tejto stránky všestranne rozvinutého jedinca. Preto by sme chceli našimi programami podporiť i túto oblasť rozvoja ľudského jedinca, aby bol celostný.

  Program HUP: Jedným z princípov ľudstva, ktorý nás drží spolu a umožní nám prežiť do budúcnosti je spolupatričnosť, solidarita a pomoc odkázaným. Sú jedinci, ktorých prírodné živly, spoločenské pomery či iné okolnosti dostali do situácie, z ktorej sa bez pomoci ostatných ľudí a spoločenstva nedokážu dostať samotní a sú odkázaní na pomoc ostatných. Tým, ktorí sa do takýchto pomerov nedostali vlastným pričinením, nedbanlivosťou, závislosťou či nezodpovednosťou, chceme podať pomocnú ruku a finančne, materiálne, či inak zmysluplne podporiť ich vrátenie sa do normálneho života.

Vladimir Orth

Karibský ostrov Portoriko je známy aj ako Porto Rico alebo Puerto Rico, v preklade „bohatý prístav“. Domáci ho však nazývajú „La Isla del Encanto“, čo znamená „pôvabný ostrov“. Každý návštevník rozumie, prečo domorodci svoj ostrov označujú ako pôvabný. Snúbi sa v ňom pestrosť čistej prírody, luxusných hotelov, ale aj jednoduchého životného štýlu miestnych obyvateľov. Tento neveľký ostrov s rozlohou iba necelých dvanásťtisíc kilometrov štvorcových som krátko navštívil počas plavby Karibikom.

Vladimír Mego pre UnitedLife

   Požičaným autom vyrážame z hlavného mesta San Juan na severo-východe smerom na západ ostrova. Ešte pred vstupom do vnútrozemia už na okraji mesta zastavujeme v údajne najväčšom Bacardi liehovare sveta. Rodina Bacardiovcov sem presťahovala výrobu svetoznámeho rumu z Kuby po Castrovom prevrate v šesťdesiatych rokoch minulého storočia. Vôňa rumu a vanilky sa šíri až za plot obrovského areálu s vlastným prístavom. Zvažujeme prehliadku liehovaru, ktorú je tu možné podniknúť so sprievodcami, avšak pokračujeme ďalej na západ ostrova.

 Neďaleko mesta Arecibo, v pahorkatine medzi kopcami, je v priehlbine vyhasnutého krátera uložený najväčší rádioteleskop na svete s priemerom 305 metrov a plochou ekvivalentnou k rozlohe 26 futbalových ihrísk. Rádioteleskop je spätý s výskumom ďalekého vesmíru, mimozemských civilizácií, ale tiež Piercom Brosnanom alias Jamesom Bondom z filmu Golden Eye.

   Po obhliadke observatória sa presúvame ešte viac do vnútrozemia k ďalšiemu „naj“ ostrova Portoriko –
tretiemu najväčšiemu jaskynnému komplexu na svete. V parku Rio Camuy je 220 jaskýň a niekoľko priepastí. Z nich najväčšia, Tres Pueblos, má priemer jeden kilometer a hĺbku 120 metrov. Pre momentálne záplavy nie je možné ísť do vnútra jaskýň, tak sledujeme aspoň priepasť. Vraciame sa späť, osviežiť sa na pláži Isla Verde – údajne najkrajšej na ostrove.

  Pláž široká asi sto metrov sa tiahne v dĺžke niekoľko kilometrov, priamo v hlavnom meste. Je tu všetko, čo očakáva od známej destinácie náročný návštevník i oddychujúci dobrodruh – hotely, bary, reštaurácie. Snáď jediné, čo tu chýba, sú krásne Portoričanky. V disharmónii so všeobecnou predstavou o tmavých štíhlych čiernovlasých kráskach je väčšina tunajších „krások“ totiž dosť obézna a nepekná.

  Po vykúpaní v mori zostáva čas a tak vyrážame do rezervácie El Yunque. Opäť, ako množstvo iných krás tohto ostrova, aj El Yunque je čímsi výnimočný. Ide totiž o jediný dažďový prales na území USA a cesta z pláže hlavného mesta k nemu trvá autom iba trištvrte hodinu. Zamračená obloha a blížiaci sa večer dodávajú džungli, prístupnej asfaltovou cestou, tajomný ráz. Zo zákrut sa kde tu naskytá krásny výhľad na členité pobrežie. Míňame niekoľko vodopádov a džungľu plnú papradí s veľkosťou našich dubov, bambus s výškou elektrických stĺpov a rastliny, ktoré u nás pestujeme ako izbové, tu dosahujú neuveriteľnú veľkosť stromov. Je tu krásne, ale loď na nás nepočká, musíme sa vrátiť späť. Ostáva nám nalodiť a na plavbu k ďalším nádherným ostrovom Karibiku…

Breitling Emergency is a unique service that the customer acquires with the purchase of a wristwatch from the Emergency series. At the last Baselworld 2013 congress, Breitling introduced the second generation of the Emergency series watches, which, in addition to top-notch technical equipment, also have a special device for emergencies. If the owner of the watch finds himself in a critical situation, he just needs to use his watch as an emergency radio. This is activated after a relatively simple procedure, during which the watch becomes a transmitter sending an SOS signal and its own location on two internationally accepted frequencies. The watch uses the Cospas-Sarsat system for localization.

Immediately after the signal is picked up, a whole rescue team is dispatched to the transmitter location. It doesn’t matter where in the world you are. If you think this is just a demonstration of Breitling’s power without any real basis, you will be surprised – the first generation of the Breitling Emergency watch has already saved several pilots in distress. By purchasing a Breitling Emergency watch, the new owner undertakes not to abuse the emergency service. In such a case, he will have to pay for the entire trip, which represents a fine far exceeding the value of the watch itself.

   TAG Heuer Carrera od slávneho hodinára Jacka Heuera je šitá na mieru automobilovým pretekárom, ktorí ju po celých 50 rokov milovali. Od svojho zrodenia v roku 1963 zažila množstvo úspešných premien, ale jej srdce stále zostáva verné motoristickému športu.

   Majitelia švajčiarskej hodinárskej značky Heuer boli od nepamäti oddaní nielen hodinárstvu, ale aj športu. V roku 1963 Jack Heuer navrhol hodinky vyhovujúce špecifickým potrebám automobilových pretekárov s veľkým prehľadným číselníkom a puzdrom odolávajúcim náročným podmienkam automobilových pretekov. Jeho inšpiráciou bol „Carrera Panamericana Mexico Road Race“, najnáročnejší vytrvalostný závod sveta.

Prvú černo-bielu Carreru volanú aj „Panda“ si okamžite obľúbili špičkoví pretekári Európy aj Ameriky, dnes patrí k najcennejším zberateľským kusom. Medzi slávnych majiteľov Carrery patrili napríklad šampióni F1 Jackie Ickx a Clay Regazzoni. V čase, keď bol Heuer oficiálnym sponzorom a časomierou Ferrari, mali členovia tejto stajne Carrery z masívneho zlata so svojím menom a krvnou skupinou vygravírovanou na zadnom kryte.

   Od tej doby prešla Carrera radou premien. Model Carrera Calibre 1887 získal prestížne ocenenie La Petite Aiguille a tým vzdal poctu oscilačnému pastorku – vynálezu firmy Heuer z roku 1887. Ten je dnes jeden zo základných a najpevnejších pilierov moderného hodinárstva. V roku 2012 bol predstavený TAG Heuer Carrera Mikrogirder. Jeho presnosť je 5/10 tisícin sekundy, pracuje na ultravysokej frekvencii 7,2 milióna taktov za hodinu a jeho sekundová ručička obehne číselník 20× za sekundu.

Modelová trieda Clipper Chrono Diver Maxi od spoločnosti Hermes patrí k tým, ktoré si vyberajú zákazníci s vyhradeným vkusom a záľubou v potápaní. Model s názvom 038913WW00 je ideálnym reprezentantom tejto triedy.

Hermes venoval dizajnu týchto náramkových hodín zvýšenú pozornosť a aj napriek tomu, že sú tieto hodinky extravagantné a jednoznačne identifikovateľné, nepôsobia nevkusne alebo nevhodne. Hodinky majú výrazný kaučukový remeň, ktorý je vybavený „push button“ skladacou sponou, puzdro hodín je vyrobené z brúseného titánu s funkčnými detailmi z leštenej nehrdzavejúcej ocele. Výrazný strieborný ciferník so zapustenými ciferníkmi chronografu a bielymi číslami obsahuje svetielkujúce ručičky a dátumovku na 3. hodine. Chronograf sa dobíja prirodzeným pohybom, pričom má energetickú rezervu na 48 hodín, je ho možné používať aj pod vodou a pred poškodením ho chráni zafírové sklo.

Autumn is coming, when we are most susceptible to colds and various viral diseases affecting mainly the respiratory tract, which makes our everyday life very unpleasant. We feel generally tired, inefficient, we are constantly forced to clear our noses and the cough does not allow us to rest even during a night's sleep. The time of the flu has come.

   Influenza is an acute viral disease that spreads rapidly from person to person through the air. It is a serious health problem that can cause serious health conditions and even death in high-risk groups. According to the World Health Organization, about 1 billion people get influenza every year, of which 3 to 5 million people have a severe course of the disease. The risk of developing serious complications is highest in young children, the elderly and people with serious chronic diseases of the respiratory tract, cardiovascular system, metabolic, renal and immune disorders.

   Who should get vaccinated?

   Vaccination should be primarily aimed at people who are most likely to develop complications, or those who are most exposed to the risk of infection. The high probability of developing complications is in people with other, especially chronic, diseases, in people with reduced immunity, as well as in people older than 65 years.

   In healthy people, vaccination is equally effective, reducing morbidity by 70 to 90%.

   Flu vaccination is recommended for all children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. Athletes and those traveling abroad during an expected flu epidemic should also be protected by vaccination.

   Who should not be vaccinated?

   Vaccination should be postponed in patients with a febrile illness or acute infection. People allergic to chicken eggs should not be vaccinated. However, vaccines for allergy sufferers are now available, in which the virus is produced in cells other than those of chicken origin. Vaccination is generally not recommended for women in the first trimester of pregnancy and for children younger than 6 months.

   Why is it recommended to get vaccinated every year?

   The level of antibodies produced after vaccination declines over time and may be too low to provide protection the following year. Flu viruses are also constantly changing genetically, and immunity acquired from a previous flu infection or vaccination in the previous year may not protect against the changed flu viruses. Because the flu virus changes, the vaccine must be updated each year to include the most current strains of the flu virus.

   How does the vaccine protect you?

   Following vaccination, the immune system begins to produce antibodies against the viral proteins of the vaccine strains. If a person becomes infected with the real virus, these antibodies bind to the virus particles that have entered the body and are removed before they can damage tissue, so that people do not get sick or the disease is only mild. Sufficient protective levels of antibodies are developed 10-14 days after vaccination.

   When is the best time to get vaccinated?

   In the northern hemisphere, the best time to get vaccinated is between mid-September and the end of November. If you get vaccinated later, the vaccine may not have enough time to provide an immune response. For more information, contact your GP who will administer the vaccination.

   How effective is the flu vaccine?

   The effectiveness of a vaccine lies in preventing or reducing the course of the disease. The effectiveness of a vaccine against influenza depends on the immune status of the person, the age of the person vaccinated, the degree of similarity between the vaccine virus and the virus circulating in the population, the (sub)type of the virus, and the length of time between vaccination and exposure to the influenza virus. These factors make it difficult to say with certainty how effective an influenza vaccine is. In general, vaccination will prevent illness in 80% young adults and is somewhat less effective in older people.

    Is it possible to get the flu if you have been vaccinated?

   This is possible, especially in older adults, if they become infected shortly after vaccination. However, in those who become infected after vaccination, the disease is likely to be milder, without complications, and is less likely to require hospitalization or result in death.

   To support the body's immunity and prevent viral diseases, we also recommend the application of high-dose vitamin C (7.5 gr.), which is applied in repeated small short-term infusions into a vein. However, before applying it, it is necessary to ask your treating doctor whether its application is not inappropriate for you. For example, patients with a tendency to form urinary stones should not use this treatment, and may need certain additional examinations before its application.

   Finally, it is important to remind travelers who decide to visit exotic countries during the fall and winter that they should not forget to get vaccinated against diseases that could make their stay in that country unpleasant.

   If you think about your health and its prevention, autumn will be beautiful for you and full of fresh colors, which you can enjoy with the arrival of this year's Indian summer!