The Minister of Health, François Braun, says he is worried regarding the arrival of the seasonal flu which will be very powerful this year.
Brittany has already entered the pre-epidemic phase
The USPO (Union of Community Pharmacists) is sounding the alarm on the drop in flu vaccination coverage. On Twittershe warns: “It is expected to be quite virulent. We advise pharmacists to be proactive, ask their patients if they are vaccinated once morest the flu and encourage them to update“.
We advise pharmacists to be proactive
The influenza virus is already circulating on the national territory and according to Santé Publique France, the epidemiological indicators show an upward trend and certain regions, such as Brittany, have entered the pre-epidemic phase. However, since 2020 and ‘thanks’ to the Covid barrier gestures, the flu had disappeared.
‘Thanks’ to the Covid barrier gestures, the flu had disappeared
On farnceinfo, the president of the USPO, expect a very high intensity seasonal flu : “We expect the flu epidemic to be quite virulent. We are basing ourselves on what happened in the southern hemisphere, which is somewhat our point of reference, where we saw a flu that was much more violent“, he is alarmed.
Problem, some tired by vaccines linked to Covid, the French are slow to get vaccinated once morest the flu. At the same time, data from IQVIA/GERS (a network of pharmacies) show to date a very significant delay in influenza vaccination. In the general population, the decrease is 25% compared to the 2021 campaign. Vaccination coverage is particularly worrying.
The health system will be able to “support the arrival of the flu if everyone does their part
For his part, the Minister of Health, François Braun, assured that the health system will be able to “support the arrival of the flu if everyone does their part and if the most fragile people are vaccinated”.