Public Health France has been monitoring the spread of influenza for several weeks, which, combined with the rebound of the COVID-19 pandemic, worries hospital services with the onset of winter. 35 departments are particularly affected.
We almost forgot it last year: the flu. Almost absent in 2020 thanks to barrier measures against COVID-19 and prevention, it may well reappear and affect us more severely this winter, warns Capital. Actually, Our immunity was not reactivated last year, as is usually the case for millions of people without even knowing it.
Despite the vaccination of most French people against COVID-19, health officials fear co-transmission of Sars-CoV-2 and the winter virus.
35 departments particularly affected
Haute-Vienne, for example, has roughly the flu emergency travel rate. eight times the national rate Specifies: 77.5 out of 10,000 routes recorded between October 25 and 31 Capital. Same situation in Indre with 66.1 emergency room visits for one flu in 10,000.
And in Occitania?
In our region, at the moment, only Lozere is affected. 45,9 Emergency visits for flu for 10,000 visits.
Focus on flu vaccination campaign
The government started the flu vaccination campaign four days ago on 22 October. Goal: Co-vaccination, that is, the fact of injecting the flu vaccine in one hand, and the vaccine or vaccine booster against COVID-19 in the other. This campaign has already started in nursing homes and USLD.
#NoublionsPasLaGrippe | patients at risk of developing severe #flu They can be vaccinated by a health professional of choice:
ud83dudc49Médecin
ud83dudc49Pharmacien
ud83dudc49 babysitter
ud83dudc49infermier pic.twitter.com/qHdnUlD2lN— Ministry of Solidarity and Health (@Sante_Gouv) November 5, 2021
However, according to the Directorate General of Health (DGS), only 54,000 co-injections were done against COVID-19 and influenza on November 2. If the Influenza Campaign is currently reserved for those over the age of 65 and the most vulnerable because of their health condition, it must be Extend to the general population by 23 November.
have influenza vaccine 100% covered by health insurance For people at risk.
Who’s worried?
With the flu affecting 2 to 6 million people each winter, it is responsible for many hospitalizations and deaths, especially in vulnerable people, recalls the public service site. The flu shot is especially important this season to protect people at risk of developing severe forms of the flu, such as:
- people aged 65 and over;
- people under the age of 65 with certain chronic diseases;
- pregnant women ;
- obese people whose BMI is greater than or equal to 40;
- Admission of infants under 6 months of age at risk (to protect infants who cannot be vaccinated) and immunocompromised people;
- health professionals and professionals of medico-social establishments in contact with at-risk patients;
- Domestic assistance for vulnerable private employers.