In Occitania, as everywhere in France, winter respiratory viruses are very active at the moment.
While cases of bronchiolitis and covid are still present, the flu is on the rise, with the number of hospitalizations which has increased sharply in recent days. Faced with winter viruses, ARS Occitanie reminds that there is still time to protect the most vulnerable, through vaccination against flu and covid. It is also, for everyone, the time to reinforce the daily barrier gestures that protect us: increased vigilance everywhere.
The Occitanie region is currently in its 4th week of flu epidemic. Added to this virus is a stable but still present circulation of bronchiolitis and covid. In Occitania, contaminations linked to the flu have accelerated in recent days. Viruses are circulating more at the start of the year. The number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations is also increasing significantly. Like every year, during this epidemic period, all private and hospital healthcare professionals are mobilized in solidarity to deal with these additional calls on our healthcare system.
With all these actors, the ARS has prepared in advance all the solutions which avoid congestion in the health system (cooperation between private and hospital sectors upstream of emergencies, solidarity cooperation between public and private establishments, strengthening the use of all care services after hospitalization, etc.). All of these measures are currently being mobilized by the ARS to anticipate an increase in needs linked to this epidemic situation. Hospitals and medical-social establishments in our region are all called upon to strengthen their vigilance measures now and adapt their organization to meet the needs of the coming days and weeks.
All of these indicators, which have risen sharply over the last two weeks, call for a strong strengthening of all our prevention and vigilance reflexes. Faced with all the viruses of winter, it is the time to adopt barrier gestures which limit the transmission of these viruses. We must also strengthen vaccination of the most vulnerable against the flu and against covid: it is not too late to get vaccinated.
-Joint flu and covid vaccination
Vaccination is recommended to protect people at risk of developing a serious form of influenza, who are also those at risk of serious infection with covid-19. Vaccination against flu and covid can save lives, helping to fight these viruses and reducing the risk of complications. Vaccination is the essential action to adopt for all the most vulnerable people as well as for health professionals. For these people, it is essential to be protected by both vaccinations.
Two vaccines available until January 31, 2025:
• Vaccinations against flu and against covid-19 can be carried out in one go and are fully effective two weeks after the injection. If the two vaccinations cannot take place at the same time, there is no waiting period to respect between the two.
• The important thing is to get both vaccinations in order to be protected against both diseases: The people most exposed to severe forms of seasonal flu are also those who are most at risk of developing a serious covid infection.
