Flu epidemic: what is the situation in Aveyron?

Starting with the Jacques-Puel hospital in Rodez. The increase in the number of flu cases has forced the establishment to modify its operations in recent weeks, as explained by Vincent Prévoteau, the hospital director.

We have around 10% of patients who are hospitalized due to the flu, we see that we are reaching the epidemiological peak, we launched a white plan around ten days ago. We were able to call back professionals, very easily, because we have very committed professionals, we opened additional beds, what we call the “buffer zone”. The impact is extremely strong, so I would like to send a public health message: protect yourself and vaccinate yourself, because the most serious cases are people who are not vaccinated.

Vaccination is precisely the black point of this winter. Vaccine doses are ordered almost a year in advance, so it is difficult to anticipate such a rise in the epidemic. Today, doses are becoming increasingly rare in pharmacies, like in that of Philippe Calmels, the president of the Aveyron pharmacists' union.

There, I have three vaccines left, and again, it's because my wife is a pharmacist and she was able to give me some of her stock. We are used to ordering a little more than expected, but in some pharmacies stocks are at zero. The ARS has authorized us this year to be able to help out among ourselves, to be able to try to vaccinate all the people wishing to do so. But if the epidemic is strong this year, it is because people have forgotten barrier gestures, putting on a mask in case of symptoms, or washing their hands regularly.

Pharmacists will also soon be placing orders for the next vaccination campaign, in the fall. By trying to aim correctly, namely not to miss doses, but not to waste any either.