The first stage of the flu vaccination campaign begins this Friday, October 22 for priority audiences. Initially scheduled for October 26, it was brought forward earlier this week by the Directorate General of Health, which justifies this change in schedule by the increase in “risk of co-infection and development of severe forms and death” in “a context of circulation of Covid-19 and influenza viruses”. It has already started on October 18 in the Ehpads.
This anticipation of the influenza campaign aims in particular to pair it with the recall against Covid-19, to avoid complications, as Professor Alain Fischer, President of the Vaccine Strategy Orientation Council, recalled this Thursday, on France Info, in order to “avoid two potential forms of severe pneumonia“. Vaccination makes it possible to limit the risks of concomitant or successive infection by the two viruses, in particular in people with co-morbidities. In an opinion issued on September 27, the Haute Autorité de Santé even recommends administering the two vaccines. (Covid-19 and influenza) the same day.
Who is concerned ?
The first stage of the influenza vaccination campaign from October 22 to November 22 concerns “targeted” people, to know :
- people 65 and over
- people under 65 with certain chronic conditions
- pregnant women
- obese people with a BMI greater than or equal to 40
- the entourage of infants under 6 months at risk (to protect infants who cannot be vaccinated) and immunocompromised people
- health professionals and professionals from medico-social establishments in contact with patients at risk
- home help for vulnerable private employers
Where to pick up your vaccine?
The flu shot is free for priority persons subscribing to the list detailed above. If you are concerned, you should have received or will soon receive an invitation and a voucher from Health Insurance. You will then just have to present them to the pharmacy to collect your dose. If you have not received these documents, you can turn to your GP for a prescription.
Where to get vaccinated?
Doctors, nurses and midwives are authorized to administer the vaccine to you. Since 2019, pharmacists have obtained permission to vaccinate against influenza, but they do it on a voluntary basis, ask them by collecting your dose. Finally, since the authorities recommend administering the flu vaccine and the booster dose against Covid-19 at the same time, you can also go to a Covid-19 vaccination center with your influenza vaccine.
The nursing homes and health establishments were invited to deploy the anti-influenza vaccination as of Monday, October 18, to allow sessions of joint vaccination against influenza and Covid-19. The influenza vaccination campaign for “non-priority” people will begin on November 23 and end on January 31, 2022.