France is in an epidemic situation regarding the influenza virus. A context that weighs heavily on nursing staff. The Minister of Health called for measures reminiscent of those put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic.
There is a flu epidemic in France. Almost all departments are affected by this epidemic. This word “epidemic” sometimes awakens trauma among the French after that of Covid-19, which disrupted life around the world. This also brings to mind the situation of caregivers, who were applauded every evening at 8 p.m. by a large part of the population. The situation at the hospital is deteriorating due to a lack of resources and personnel, and thousands of people are hospitalized for the flu. Most of the time, these are fragile people, for whom the vaccine is free and particularly recommended. So, the Minister for Health, Yannick Neuder, made announcements that resemble those made during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Visiting the Cochin hospital in Paris on Friday January 10, he himself made this parallel: “During Covid-19, we had much less gastroenteritis and flu,” after declaring that “ we are in an epidemic situation which is significant.” But will the mask become compulsory again? As well as the vaccination of caregivers?
-Mandatory mask and vaccination for caregivers?
A priori, no. But the minister assures that “we must have no taboo on the subject” while “barrier gestures, and perhaps compulsory vaccination, should be considered”, reports Le Figaro. “All things that can improve the reception conditions for patients and relieve the burden on nursing staff” should be considered, according to him. Wearing a mask is therefore encouraged in public places. On public transport, we are already seeing more and more masks reappearing on faces.
Concerning vaccination of the general public, it is not obligatory, but must be “further encouraged”, argues the minister. He recalls that the vaccination campaign has been open since October 1 and runs until January 31 and calls on all people who wish, “especially the most vulnerable”, to go and get vaccinated. Please note that vaccination is free for vulnerable people, such as the elderly, immunocompromised or pregnant people.
