Fall vaccination campaign | Quebecers are there

2023-10-26 07:00:35

The fall vaccination campaign once morest COVID-19 is in full swing, with no fewer than 27,000 appointments each day. While many will take the opportunity to receive their dose once morest the flu at the same time, specialists point out that reactions, such as fatigue and a slight fever, are common.

Updated yesterday at 5:00 a.m.

Where is the vaccination campaign?

Quebec administers an average of 27,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine per day, the majority (77%) to people aged 60 and over. This vaccine specifically targets the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant, which first appeared in early 2023. The flu vaccine can be administered simultaneously to those who wish.

Fatigue and fever following vaccination, is this normal?

Yes, it is common for there to be reactions following a vaccine, explains the D^r Nicholas Brousseau, consulting physician at the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ). “The two main [symptômes] are pain at the injection site and fatigue. There may also be a little fever,” he says. These side effects can persist for 24 to 48 hours following vaccination and are triggered by the immune system’s preparation for a potential future viral attack.

Can receiving the COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time cause more side effects?

Receiving both vaccines simultaneously does not seem to significantly increase side effects, indicates Alain Lamarre, professor-researcher specializing in immunology and virology at the National Institute of Scientific Research (INRS). The D^r Brousseau agrees. “It doesn’t make a significant difference in the frequency of these symptoms,” he specifies.

In fact, this practice may even be beneficial in reducing the frequency of side effects, explains Dr.^r Brousseau. “When both vaccines are administered simultaneously, there is only one opportunity for reactions, whereas if the vaccines are administered separately, there are two opportunities for reactions to develop,” he explains.

It has also been shown that administering these vaccines simultaneously can increase vaccination coverage. “If we have to give them over two appointments, a lot of people won’t go. It’s really a good public health practice to be able to offer vaccines at the same time,” adds Mr. Lamarre.

If I had a strong reaction to my last dose of vaccine, should I avoid getting another dose?

Having a strong reaction to a previous dose does not necessarily predict a similar reaction to another dose, says Dr.^r Brousseau. “Often there is no correlation between the two,” he says. Despite some side effects related to vaccination, the benefits of getting vaccinated to prevent possible complications related to the virus outweigh, he explains.

Should I consider postponing an important event planned for the day following my vaccination?

“It is not a bad practice not to plan something crucial the day following or two days following vaccination,” judges Mr. Lamarre. Indeed, it is possible not to feel in great shape in the 24 to 48 hours following vaccination, says the researcher. The D^r Brousseau is of the same opinion. “In the 48 hours following receiving the vaccine, it is not the best thing to run a marathon. It is expected that a proportion of people will feel more sluggish. »

And what regarding COVID-19?

Quebec appears to have passed the peak of the fall wave of COVID-19, but indicators remain high. Telephone surveys conducted by the INSPQ estimate that 34,000 people per day contract COVID-19 and 60,000 catch another acute respiratory infection, which represents a drop compared to recent weeks. The positivity rate of PCR tests remains high at 17.3% and Quebec also continues to deplore around ten deaths each day attributed to COVID-19.

With Pierre-André Normandin, The Press

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