The flu vaccination campaign begins on Tuesday. It is possible for people who wish to be vaccinated against Covid-19 at the same time. La Dépêche du Midi tells you everything about this 2022 campaign.
It is an annual meeting which, in the last two years, has taken a particular turn. In a still tense epidemiological context, the flu vaccination campaign begins on Tuesday 18 October and will end on 15 November.
This virus affects between two and six million French people every year and causes nearly 10,000 deaths. Health authorities therefore launch a vaccination campaign every year in order to protect vulnerable people. The Midi Enter take stock of what you need to know about this 2022 campaign.
What is the flu?
It is a contagious respiratory viral infection that causes seasonal outbreaks. On his website, the health insurance describes it as a “very contagious disease that can be serious”. Influenza viruses are transmitted through droplets, coughing, sneezing, hands or even contaminated objects. Sometimes they cause a high fever, severe fatigue, headache, dry cough, or muscle aches. In 2021, nearly one million consultations with doctors were linked to this virus.
Who is affected by this new campaign?
The authorities want to protect the most vulnerable people, who could develop a severe form of the disease. These are people aged 65 and over, minors and adults with comorbidities, pregnant women, people with obesity, those around children under the age of 6 months or immunocompromised people, health care workers or home care for individuals at risk.
Read also:
After Covid-19, flu alert … not to be taken lightly
But people who are not on this list and who are over 16 have every right to get the flu vaccine.
What are the objectives of this campaign?
In 2021, 58% of people over 65 got vaccinated against the flu. This year the goal is to “reach […] vaccination coverage of at least 75% for all target groups, “says the High Authority for Health (HAS). Remember that health insurance reimburses the vaccine to those who are entitled to it. For the others, you will have to pay between 6 and 10 euros.
“There is every interest in getting vaccinated quickly against influenza for people at risk,” immunologist Jean-Daniel Lelièvre warned in early October, during a press conference of the public agency for the fight against diseases. infectious (ANRS).
Who can vaccinate you?
If you are eligible for the flu shot, Health Insurance is likely to send you an invitation, accompanied by a voucher that will allow you to collect your vaccine for free at the pharmacy. A healthcare professional can also issue one of these vouchers. In addition, four types of health workers are allowed to carry out vaccination: volunteer doctors, nurses, midwives and pharmacists.
How do I get vaccinated against both Covid-19 and the flu?
It is the desire of the health authorities, in this context of epidemiological crisis, to vaccinate both against Covid-19 and against the flu. On 3 October, in fact, a new reminder campaign against Covid-19 was launched. In practice, the population that can now benefit from this new booster of the virus vaccine corresponds in all respects to those affected by the flu vaccination. The High Authority for Health, therefore, “to avoid delays in the flu vaccination and to simplify the vaccination process”, recommended combining the two campaigns.
Read also:
Covid-19 and flu: adverse effects, people at risk … do vaccines need to be combined?
“The vaccination against Covid-19 is fully compatible with the annual vaccination against the flu”, the Ministry of Health reassured last September. According to epidemiologists, there are no interactions between the two vaccines. In practice, however, some doctors prefer to distance the two vaccinations to prevent the adverse effects of the two vaccines from occurring at the same time.
What do we know about the vaccines that are used?
The flu vaccine is renewed every year, and for good reason: it helps fight a virus that mutates very quickly. For the moment, no vaccine provides protection against both the flu and Covid-19. For this, two different vaccinations are required. In the end, as the government explainsit takes fifteen days to benefit from the protection afforded by the vaccine.
