“The peak of the flu has not yet been reached. » On January 10, 2025, the head of the emergency department at the Niort hospital center, Dr. Farnam Faranpour, after noting around thirty severe flu cases a few days earlier, predicted an increase in this figure in “the coming week”. Conversely, the number of patients suffering from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is stabilizing. “We are on a plateau. And Covid-19 remains at a low level of activity”.
At the same time, the head of department observes an increase, over this same period, in deaths among elderly people with multiple pathologies. “These are patients who we could not place in intensive care. There were probably flus among them, who were superinfected after the development of a bacteria. This year, the flu virus is more severe than last season. »
“The vaccine helps alleviate the disease”
Is it worth getting vaccinated again today? If we have the possibility, some pharmacies explain from January 3, 2025, that they will no longer be able to restock vaccines.. “Some people were infected even though they were vaccinated. This is explained by the development (serotypes) of the virus made from variants from the southern hemisphere”replies Dr. Faranpour. “But in all cases the vaccine helps to alleviate the disease. »
Few flus and no serious forms in the north
At the hospital center in the north of the department (CHNDS), the head of the emergency center in Faye-l’Abbesse, Dr Frédéric Pain, recalls that it always takes a few days before immunity against a virus takes effect. “We only have six cases and no serious forms of flu in our sector. I think that this good result comes from the fact that the vaccination rate was high this season, particularly in accommodation establishments for dependent elderly people (Ephad). »
Stocks in free fall
Regarding the stocks available for the vaccine against the flu virus, the vice-president of the CPTS (Territorial Professional Health Community) Sud-Deux-Sèvres, pharmacist in Pamproux, Dr François Billy, explains having given the same morning “the last vaccine” at his disposal. “I can no longer order any from my wholesale distributor. Its stocks are exhausted. With my colleague president of the union chamber, Dr Bussault in Melle, we decided to list the pharmacies which have them in order to guide our patients. »