new doses of vaccine made available

Hospitalization levels « exceptionally high »according to Public Health France, and flu vaccination coverage which does not exceed half of eligible people. This is a little better than last year, but it is still far from the 75% targeted by the health authorities. And more than 80% of people admitted to intensive care for flu are not vaccinated, according to figures from Public Health France. « It’s necessary put the emphasis back on vaccination and in particular the elderly and vulnerable people »pleaded with AFP the general director of the AP-HP, Nicolas Revel. In a document sent on Monday to general practitioners, nurses and pharmacists, the General Directorate of Health (DGS) also invited « all healthcare professionals involved » to intensify communication with their patients, particularly « those at risk «.

Problem: with 10.3 million doses of flu vaccine distributed so far, according to the president of the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France Philippe Besset, the doses are running out. The vaccination campaign is however supposed to last until the end of January, and a surge of fever is sweeping the entire country. The DGS confirms « insufficient stocks in certain community pharmacies across the national territory ».

“Accompanying the last weeks of flu circulation »

Additional doses of vaccine will therefore gradually be made available for « accompany the last weeks of flu circulation »indicates the DGS. GSK’s Fluarix Tetra is « available now »the arrival of new doses of Influvac Tetra from Viatris again « to be confirmed ». Sanofi, for its part, redirected 250,000 doses of Vaxigrip Tetra intended abroad to the French market, and stored in its factory in Val-de-Reuil (Eure). Impossible to make new ones: producing a flu vaccine is a complex process that takes « 6 to 8 months »indicates to Figaro Charles Wolf, France director of Sanofi. To be able to put the 250,000 additional doses on the French market, however, « we need administrative authorizations »specifies Charles Wolf, who hopes to obtain them very quickly. « It is exactly the same vaccine, but it is not the French packaging, and a pharmacy which validates its order must be able to connect with the reimbursement system. » The industrialist specifies that he « There have been strategic state stocks of flu vaccine in the past, but this is not the case this year ».

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Do better next year

Beyond this urgent response, experts insist on the need to rethink the fight against influenza at the national level. « The question we must answerbelieves Charles Wolf, It is : how to avoid this situation ? At the end of February-beginning of March, we will decide on the volumes of vaccines to be produced for next winter, mainly on the basis of the volumes ordered by pharmacists. Now is the time to anticipate to organize the next flu season and ensure that there are enough vaccines, whatever happens. » « What is very important is that we take up the question of vaccination in our country in general. »said Nicolas Revel to AFP. « All stakeholders must learn the lessons of this vaccination campaign, continue Charles Wolf. What communication, what target populations, what types of vaccines ? When you use the right tools, as we did for bronchiolitis, it works ! There is no fatality in France, there are no more antivax people than elsewhere and it is not them that we should seek out. » The majority of unvaccinated people seem to be so more through negligence and forgetfulness than through staunch opposition to vaccination.

In addition to a clear margin of maneuver to better vaccinate the population, starting with people at risk of serious forms of influenza, the question of vaccinating caregivers will also have to be asked. The vaccination obligation, theoretically provided for by the public health code, has been suspended by decree since… 2006! However, the vaccination rate of healthcare workers is plateauing: at the AP-HP for example, it is only 19%, which is « roughly the national figure » according to Nicolas Revel. « The question will arise » of a return to compulsory vaccination for healthcare workers, said Minister of Health Yannick Neuder last Friday.