As the flu vaccination campaign begins, pharmacists want to be reassuring: we are far from the shortage known last winter. In the midst of a health crisis, the population rushed for the flu vaccine and pharmacies quickly ran out. To avoid reliving this scenario, most of them anticipated inflating their orders this year, according to the Loire-Atlantique Pharmacists Union. “We based ourselves on 2020 which was a big year, explains Flavien Revaillot, from the Center pharmacy in Nantes. We have already received a first delivery which corresponds to half with several hundred doses. More hundred will arrive in a few months. “
Orders from January
“This represents about 20% more doses” compared to the orders before the health crisis specifies Marion Chevrier, pharmacist in the city center of Nantes. Orders made each year in January from laboratories for delivery in the fall, which allows this anticipation. “Last year there were a lot of additional requests from pharmacies after these pre-orders in January. But normally, what you order, you always get it.” In his pharmacy, the 2,500 ordered doses have been received.
It remains to be seen whether they will find takers, in the midst of the Covid vaccination campaign, which could cause a phenomenon of population fatigue, fears Marion Chevrier: “I hope that will not put the brakes on the flu vaccination campaign”.
Only priority people
For now, and for a month, people who have received a Social Security voucher can be vaccinated. These are the ones that are considered a priority: those over 65, pregnant women, people with pathologies (asthma, diabetes, heart failure, etc.). Caregivers are also affected. Authorities recommend that those affected by the 3rd dose of the Covid vaccine do it at the same time as the flu vaccine. As for the non-priority public, they will have to wait until November 22 to get vaccinated.