Orange with Media Services, published on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 4:49 p.m.
“For two years, the flu has been kept at a distance, thanks to the barrier measures that we have put in place against the Covid”, analyzes Professor Alain Fischer in Le Parisien this Wednesday, September 28, estimating that “this year, it will be difficult to maintain the same level of protection” and therefore fearing a “serious risk of an influenza epidemic”.
The masks have fallen, to the delight of viruses. Professor Alain Fischer, who chaired the Vaccine Strategy Orientation Council, alerts this Wednesday, September 28 in the columns of the Parisian on the return of the flu.
“During two years, the flu was held at bay, thanks to the barrier measures that we have put in place against the Covid.
This year, it will be difficult to maintain the same level of protection: masks, distancing, intensive hand washing…”, analyzed the professor of immunology, fearing, “in the face of this relaxation”, to a “serious risk of an influenza epidemic”.
Two vaccination campaigns
The Covid also remains a threat to be taken seriously. “We are not immune to emergence of a new, more virulent variant. However, a Covid-flu cohabitation is nothing to be happy about. It is synonymous with a very high number of hospitalizations”, warns the government’s former “mister vaccine”, thus justifying “the objective of two strong vaccination campaigns — Covid and flu — especially for the most vulnerable.”
It encourages, especially the most fragile, to protect themselves quickly. “To think that we will do our Covid reminder when the flu vaccine is there is a mistake. We must not delay the Covid. Less than 40% of eligible people have received their 4th dose: it is too little”, estimates Alain Fischer. “It is quite possible to receive your Covid injection at the beginning of October and the flu at the end of October! Either way, you’ll need both. he specifies. “We will have to remobilize a population that is fed up with infections and vaccines,” concludes Alain Fischer.
The anti-Covid reminder campaign from October 3
On Tuesday, the Minister of Health François Braun announced that the anti-Covid recall campaign with the new vaccines adapted to Omicron will start on October 3, once France has received the first doses. The new anti-Covid reminder, “it is not for the whole population: the High Health Authority has been clear and continues to say vaccinate the target populations”, recalled the Minister. But, he said, “if you want to get vaccinated, you can get vaccinated.”
The extra dose of vaccine is recommended for people at risk of severe form of the disease (60 years and over, immunocompromised and those around them, pregnant women, children and adolescents at high risk) and to professionals in the health and medico-social sectors.