2023-04-18 23:16:05
Seasonal flu vaccines have arrived. At the same time, the epidemic is on the decline. What to restore a little optimism following several weeks of a Caledonia struck by fever and body aches…
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Rare are the homes, businesses or schools spared by the influenza A and B viruses circulating on the Caillou. But for a few days, the generalists of the sentinel surveillance network have been formal: the epidemic is receding. Clément Filisetti, public health doctor at the DASS, centralizes the data. “The peak of the epidemic occurred in the last week of March. At that time, more than one in five patients came to see their general practitioner for an acute respiratory infection. And today , we are at less than one in ten patients. In two weeks, it has gone down a lot. It has gone down by 54% to be exact.”
Admittedly, the 16,500 doses of vaccine arrive following the epidemic peak but, for Anne Pfannstiel, prevention doctor at the DASS, the deadlines are incompressible. “It takes time to manufacture the vaccine with the strains circulating in the corresponding hemisphere. In general, they are valid until the release of the vaccine from the other hemisphere. So there, they are valid until December.”
Significant protection for the most vulnerable groups, in particular the over 65s and people with chronic pathologies. And the Caledonians are not mistaken according to the professionals. “Covid has had a somewhat negative impact on people. Indeed, they are a little more anxious regarding all the illnesses that can happen and the flu is one of them, confirms Dorothée Couillaud, pharmacist in Nouméa. Especially since as influenza A is more severe this year, people are in a hurry to have their vaccine.
The flu vaccine is also recommended for all those who are in contact with fragile people, health personnel and flight personnel. Note that for those over 65 and people with chronic pathologies, the vaccine is 100% covered by CAFAT.
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