« CThese are the barrier gestures that we have forgotten »explains Catherine Choma, director of Public Health, at the Occitanie Regional Health Agency (ARS). Faced with a real saturation of health services, the ARS recommends regular hand washing, wearing a mask and vaccination. Barrier gestures which make it possible to reduce the risks of contagion, in periods conducive to an increase in the number of patients suffering from the winter virus.
« Today, we are in an epidemic phase for influenza, in an epidemic phase for bronchiolitis, but it is decreasing, and on Covid-19, the regional evolution is rather unstable »lists Catherine Choma. The application of these recommendations also applies to « gastroenteritis, the number of cases of which is fairly stable »she adds.
In addition to respecting barrier gestures, it is vaccination that makes it possible to avoid saturation of emergencies for cases of flu or Covid-19. « Today, the people who are hospitalized in the emergency room are mainly populations who are not vaccinated and who are at risk. : the oldest people, with certain pathologies, chronic illnesses, etc. »explains the director of public health.
Those close to vulnerable people are also invited to be vaccinated, because they also contribute to the spread of the virus. Please note that fifteen days pass between vaccination and the effectiveness of the vaccine.
-« There is still time to get vaccinated »adds Catherine Choma. To do this, simply make an appointment at a pharmacy or with a doctor. Especially since« in Occitania, we have no tension on vaccines »specifies Catherine Choma. Since Friday January 10, pharmacists in the region have received instructions to « help out their colleagues » in case of lack of doses. An imbalance between pharmacies can arise because vaccines are ordered very far in advance, depending on the number of people vaccinated the previous year.
« Vaccination helps reduce complications, but does not prevent contamination and contamination. »underlines the representative of the ARS. Hence the importance of wearing a mask if you have symptoms of a winter virus.
