in this hospital, many departments are overwhelmed. “We don’t have enough people vaccinated”

Burgundy-Franche-Comté is still on epidemic alert for influenza. This respiratory infection strongly impacts many hospital services in the region. This is the case, for example, in Auxerre (Yonne), where activity has increased significantly since December

Bertrand Soto places a sort of “cotton swab” in Antonin’s nose. He leaves it for a few seconds, sticking it well to this schoolboy’s nasal cavities. Then, he removes it before placing the sample in an airtight bag which must be analyzed. The doctor is indeed trying to find out if he has the flu, because this 12-year-old boy has all the warning symptoms.

“I have a headache, a sore throat and a cough,” he explains. During this winter period, Antonin is far from being the only one to present these symptoms. According to Public Health France, Burgundy-Franche-Comté is still on epidemic alert for influenza. And at Auxerre hospital (Yonne), pediatric emergencies have seen an increase in these cases in their admissions.

“This year, the epidemic is particularly intense. We are overwhelmed with all the consequences of a virus which has very variable pathologies, such as fever, but also damage to the muscles or red blood cells,” says Bertrand Soto, head of the pediatric emergency department. Since December, he has carried out 100 consultations per day compared to the usual 60.

This is not the only service to be impacted by this flu epidemic. Adult emergencies also saw an increase of more than 30% in the number of flu-related admissions. The people who come to the hospital are very different from recent years. “We have younger people who come with respiratory or gastric symptoms,” adds Mohamed Dyani, head of department.

According to these medical experts, this increase in the number of flu-related admissions is linked to the number of people vaccinated. "There aren’t enough," explained Bertrand Soto. “For a year, the vaccine has been open to younger people. However, there is not the same enthusiasm as for the one against bronchiolitis, because it is wrongly considered to be a benign disease .”

According to Santé Publique France, in 2023-2024, 26.3% of people under 65 at risk living in Burgundy-Franche-Comté were vaccinated against the flu. In total, 47.5% of the affected regional population was protected against the virus. However, the Regional Health Agency considers that this “remains the most effective way to prevent serious forms of influenza infection.”

Here are some steps so that you can get vaccinated: you must first obtain a voucher issued by Social Security attesting to the possibility of receiving a vaccine.

Then you can go to an establishment that sells it. “In this case, we will deliver it and offer to do it on site. The patient has the choice: he can be vaccinated by certified nurses or doctors,” says Laeticia Rappeneau, preparer in a pharmacy in Auxerre.

For the years to come, Public Health France’s objective is for 75% of people most at risk to be vaccinated against the flu.