faced with the flu epidemic, a shortage of vaccines in Picardy pharmacies

The flu epidemic is not weakening. Public Health France reports deaths and “very high hospital activity” throughout France. In Picardy, the peak seems almost reached. Problem: several pharmacies are experiencing a shortage of doses, due to lack of anticipation.

Shortage alert. In his pharmacy in Flesselles (Somme), Gabriel Collet no longer has any doses of flu vaccines. “We haven’t had anything since last Friday”explains the manager of the pharmacy.

Since the start of the vaccination campaign on October 15, 2024, this health professional has carried out 735 injections. A sharp increase in demand compared to previous years. “So it’s difficult to predict. Our orders are anticipated a year in advance, that’s the difficulty”specifies Gabriel Collet.

“We are obliged to redirect patients to other colleagues, who still have more to do”. Example at the De La Hotoie pharmacy in Amiens. Here, Sylvie, manager of a restaurant, has just had her injection. “I work in a business where we generate a lot of traffic. We kiss, we hug, we shake hands. I heard about the lack of dose, it scared me a little, so I took the plunge.”she says.

Stocks not sufficient enough to cope with a public, a priori more worried. During this period, Public Health France is alerting. The week of January 6 to 12 was marked by “a marked severity of the epidemic”. In Hauts-de-France, the incidence rate is estimated at 296 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. An increase compared to last week, according to the report from the Sentinelles network.

The epidemic would be particularly severe in the region. “We are around the peak. We will certainly reach it in a few days”details Maxime Gignon, epidemiologist at Amiens University Hospital. The establishment, which has announced that it is strengthening the level of its “Hospital under pressure” plan, must cope in particular with the influx of patients in the emergency room.

Maxime Gignon was the guest of ICI 19/20 Picardie, this Friday January 18. Paradoxically, he recalls that despite the lack of dose, the vaccination rate still remains low:

In addition, in the face of the health crisis, the medical community emphasizes that simple actions help limit the spread of type A influenza, which is particularly virulent this year:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for 30 seconds
• Ventilate closed spaces regularly
• Wear a mask to protect and protect yourself
• Maintain a distance of at least two meters from those potentially infected
• Limit contact.

Maxime Gignon recalls that before the end of the campaign, on January 31, certain people remain priority in care. Those most at risk such as infants, people over 65, chronically ill people or pregnant women.

With Noélie mésange / FTV