At the Amou Health Centre, in Landes, the latest figures for the flu vaccination campaign are exactly the same as last year at the same time. But Doctor Guillaume Darmaillacq, general practitioner, still notes a certain withdrawal: “People have not yet felt winter coming, they think they have time,” he comments. To this, we can add as a limiting factor, the multiplication of injections, since the Covid vaccine must be renewed at least every six months. »
If the Amou Health Center nevertheless holds the top of the basket, in terms of number of vaccinated, it is undoubtedly, because of its organizational model: “If we start from the completely well-founded principle that the best placed to convince patients are the caregivers, continues Doctor Darmaillacq, so our coordination has all the merit: doctors, pharmacists, nurses work together here. When a patient is hesitant about vaccination, says he will come back tomorrow or next week, is offered the injection the same day, there is always a caregiver to take care of him. »
If the latest epidemiological data shows that the flu is not yet in season, a cold snap could well change the situation. Doctor Darmaillacq, from Amou, has already observed this. Just like the Director General of Health (DGS), Doctor Grégory Emery, who, from his Paris office, is calling out in favor of this flu-Covid vaccination campaign which is dragging its feet. “Launched on October 10, it fell far short of our expectations. The latest indicators have shown in recent days an increase in cases of flu and Covid in Île-de-France, Normandy and Hauts-de-France. Nothing scary, but everything can happen very quickly. However, the vaccine takes fifteen days to be effective, it is time to invite the most vulnerable people to be vaccinated before the end of year holidays. »
“We also note that a form of doubt has arisen about the necessity of vaccination”
100% coverage from age 65
Each year, Public Health France deplores around 9,000 deaths in France following the flu, and more than 15,000 hospitalizations, the DGS recalls that the majority of these concern unvaccinated people. “Coverage is 100% as long as you are 65 years old, or suffer from a long-term condition or chronic illness, for pregnant women, obese people, health professionals », Specifies Doctor Grégory Emery.
This year, given the concomitant circulation of influenza viruses and Covid, the vaccination campaign is also coupled. All you have to do is go to the pharmacy, with a Health Insurance voucher, your Vitale card and that's it. “We are entering into a sort of delay which risks becoming problematic,” continued the DGS. This is undoubtedly linked to a late winter, but we also note that a form of doubt has arisen about the necessity of vaccination. A feeling of overexposure highlighted by a Coviprev survey. »
Doctor Emery launched an appeal to the general public to invite them to be vaccinated against flu and Covid as soon as possible. “Vaccine hesitancy is normal, a vaccine is a medicine, but we must remember that vaccines are our best allies. In order to boost support for vaccination, we are going to implement a strategy with a focus on disinformation. »
