7:31 p.m., October 7, 2022
“I do it every winter, so as not to get sick. To have a better quality of life. » Danielle, who lives in Clermont-Ferrand, will soon celebrate her 81st birthday. This year, she will get her flu shot. “during the first fortnight of November”.“I’ve been doing it for 25 years.she explains. I don’t see why I would stop now as I get older. » Danielle contracted the Covid
recently and will not need a booster dose, but she supports the principle.
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Vaccination and hesitation
Not everyone is so enthusiastic regarding this double vaccination. A survey carried out by Santé Publique France and published on Thursday reveals that only 49% of people deemed to be at risk plan to receive the two vaccines. ” This is littleregrets Mircea Sofonea, lecturer in epidemiology at the University of Montpellier, who points out that“A flu vaccine does not protect once morest Sars-Cov-2, and vice versa. »“If these people are at risk for both diseases and they get both at the same time, there is an increased risk of hospitalization and death. » 22% of frail people do not wish to receive doses of the two vaccines.
As the country is in the grip of an eighth wave of Covid-19 and positive cases are increasing, especially among the elderly, the researcher at the University of Montpellier is sounding the alarm. If for the moment it is not yet relevant, “co-circulation” Covid and other respiratory illnesses such as the flu would be possible this winter.
“We might very well have a peak of the eighth wave of Covid in November, and a new wave in January”, he explains. Which would then be superimposed on the period of flu proliferation. A far from trivial situation, as it might lead to “superinfections” and increase the risk of serious forms in all individuals.
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During the period of high Covid circulation, barrier gestures had largely limited the circulation of seasonal epidemics in January and February. The upsurge in the number of influenzas was especially marked in the spring. Influenza vaccination coverage for last season exceeded 52% for the target population, an insufficient figure.
The behavior of the French vis-à-vis vaccines can still evolve
The fault, among others, to the unpopularity of the vaccine according to Mircea Sofonea. “We have a demeaning speech regarding this vaccine, that it is not effective” he regrets. As for the flu, it is perceived as “a disease that has always existed, a fatality”. “There is a minimization of symptoms, and people may not know what a real flu is. A real flu, we remember it” adds the epidemiologist. He recalls that each year, she is responsible for “10 to 15,000 deaths. »
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There is a minimization of symptoms
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At the end of the year, “immune decline, falling temperatures” but also the relaxation of barrier gestures might promote a strong comeback of the famous annual epidemic. Indeed, in the Public Health France survey, 63% of respondents said they respected protective measures less than at the start of the epidemic. The testimony, with the hesitation to resort to vaccines, of a “relaxation of the perception of the risk of infection” according to the researcher.
But for the moment, difficult to decide on the future conditions. “We are in the unknown for 2022-2023, we do not yet know how it will happen”, he confides. Likewise, due to “of an evolving health context”the behavior of the French towards vaccines and barrier gestures can still evolve. “There is a form of health solidarity to consider” insists Mircea Sofonea, who recalls the importance of frequent airing of rooms and double vaccination and insists: “These infectious respiratory diseases are preventable. »
