Vulnerable people are targeted by the health authorities’ campaign. Last season, seasonal flu caused 14,000 hospitalizations and more than 1,800 people died from complications. But, many believe that the number of illnesses is, in reality, much higher.
Published on: 16/10/2024 – 20:37 Updated on: 16/10/2024 – 21:18
2 min
Seasonal flu is a viral condition that can have serious, even fatal, consequences for those over 65, those with health or immunity problems, those with chronic diseases, obesity problems or are overweight, but also in the case of pregnant women.
All of them are a priority in this vaccination campaign. Just as well, vaccination is also recommended for medical and sanitary personnel who work in maternity hospitals or nursing homes.
Health authorities have sent more than 17 million “vaccine vouchers” to the French, in the form of a letter inviting them to come to pharmacies to get the flu vaccine for free.
Vaccines can be administered by doctors or midwives. Nurses can only inject a dose of flu vaccine to people who are over 11 years old. And pharmacists and dentists can only vaccinate adults.
The French have at their disposal three types of flu vaccine: one produced by the GSK laboratory, another produced by Sanofi and a third marketed by the Viatris Santé laboratory. Any of them can be injected to those who are over 6 months old.
In total, 13.9 million doses of vaccine will be delivered, announce officials from the French health authority.
The Ministry of Health mentioned that, at the present time, no particular flu problem has been observed. But, he recommends vaccination before flu viruses circulate on the grounds that, after vaccination, the body needs 2 weeks to form the necessary antibodies.
Vaccination should prevent serious forms of seasonal influenza.
In the last flu epidemic, at the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, more than 1.5 million French people presented to a doctor with flu symptoms. More than 73,000 patients arrived at the emergency room and of these, more than 14,000 were hospitalized. Most were elderly people who had not been vaccinated against the flu.
In the last campaign, only half of the people over 65 got vaccinated against influenza.
The Flu Vaccination Campaign: The Great French Flubbery
Published on: 16/10/2024 – 20:37 Updated on: 16/10/2024 – 21:18
Ah, seasonal flu! That charming annual guest that always seems to overstay its welcome. Like an unwanted relative during the holidays, it brings with it coughs, sneezes, and, unfortunately, a fair few hospitalizations and deaths. Last season, more than 1,800 people bid adieu after complications related to the flu. That’s quite the exit, but really, how many could have avoided it? Well, if the authorities have their way, quite a few.
Now, the French health authorities have launched a campaign targeting the vulnerable — and no, I’m not talking about people who can’t function without their morning coffee. We’re talking about those over 65, those with chronic conditions, and even pregnant women, who have enough to deal with. To tackle this, health authorities have sent out a staggering 17 million “vaccine vouchers.” Yes, that’s not just for a fancy brunch; you can redeem this for your flu vaccine at pharmacies across France!
You might be asking, “What’s in it for me?” Well, if you’re over six months old (yes, that’s the cutoff, folks), you have three delightful vaccine options from GSK, Sanofi, or Viatris Santé. Think of it as a buffet where instead of food, you get a needle. Delicious! And don’t worry, the needles are only administered by certified professionals. Because let’s face it, you wouldn’t want your therapist trying to give you a shot. Talk about a prescription for disaster!
The Ministry of Health is quick to assure us that currently, no grand flu crisis is brewing. But why take chances? It’s like checking your smoke alarm after you smell smoke — not the best time to find out it’s out of batteries. The truth is, once you roll up your sleeve, it takes about two weeks to develop those all-important antibodies. It’s like waiting for a slow train when you could already be on your way to immunity city!
During the last flu epic—sorry, I meant epidemic—over 1.5 million French folks sought medical attention for flu-like symptoms. And out of these, 14,000 were hospitalized. Spoiler alert: most were elderly and chronically ill who had not gotten vaccinated. That’s a staggering number that sounds more like a bad reality TV show than a public health statistic. Yet, despite the alarming numbers, only 50% of those over 65 rolled up their sleeves last campaign. It seems like we might have a case of ‘Flu Shot Phobia’ out there.
So, what’s the moral of this sometimes-gloomy tale? Get vaccinated, celebrate the flu jab, show it off on social media—just maybe skip the ‘hospitalization selfies.’ The flu may be fashionable every winter, but let’s not make it a trend we want to follow!
