On October 14, 2024, the Indre-et-Loire Primary Health Insurance Fund sent more than 160,000 letters to the most vulnerable policyholders in the department. These people over 65 or immunocompromised were invited to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and the flu, with a voucher allowing them 100% coverage.
Carried out by general practitioners, pharmacists or nurses, the vaccination campaign has continued since then. But at the end of November, it had fallen behind compared to previous years: only 30.1% of the most vulnerable were vaccinated in France compared to 34% at the same time in 2023. With 35.7% vaccinated, Indre-et -Loire showed a better result but still disappointing. The advertising spots were relaunched at the national level and reminder messages sent locally by email to health professionals.
“With the vaccine, we avoid severe forms”
“We already have elderly people hospitalized and people of all ages who consultspecified on December 12, Doctor Zoha Maakaroun-Vermesse, head of the vaccination center at Tours University Hospital, while Touraine was still in the pre-epidemic phase of influenza. It takes around ten days for the vaccine to be at its optimum level, hence the interest in getting vaccinated as early as possible for celebrations and vacations. This period when populations mix, in promiscuity or around a table, is conducive to contamination. With the vaccine, protection is not 100% but severe forms and complications are avoided. »
In case of fever, muscle pain, fatigue and cough, it is difficult to know the identity of your illness. “The problem is that winter viruses – Covid, flu or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – all have the same symptoms. To differentiate them, you have to do a test which is not reimbursed. » The RSV prevention vaccine, which causes bronchiolitis in infants, may be of interest in those over 75, or those over 65 with illnesses. “We hope that this vaccine will soon be reimbursed. »
“The virus changes very quickly”
The flu and Covid vaccine can be done on the same day, “on two different arms” reminds the doctor. For Covid, vaccination is covered by Social Security at all ages, in pharmacies or in a nursing office. For those over 65, a dose every six months is recommended, in spring and fall. People over 80 and immunocompromised people are invited to get vaccinated again every three months. “Vaccination is thus adapted to a virus that changes very quickly. »
your practical health
How to better access care and how to better treat yourself? In partnership with the department’s Primary Health Insurance Fund, we are offering you, throughout 2024 and in 2025, concrete solutions. How to get information? What screenings should you undergo? How not to give up care? Getting help, when you are young and/or deprived, when you are obese, or even when you leave hospitalization… We will discuss each month (the fourth Tuesday in general) a subject that you will find in these pages. Knowing that you too can, of course, react and ask questions, for example by email (to [email protected]) or by private message on the NR37 Facebook page.
