If the flu hits hard this winter, leading to hospitalizations, hospitals could quickly be overloaded, American doctors fear. Especially since the Covid-19 epidemic does not seem to be dying out. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) usually funds 500,000 doses of vaccines for adults without health insurance, they ordered 9.3 million this year. reveals the New York Times. Unless you have a life-threatening allergy, the CDC urges: Get vaccinated, starting at 6 months of age, relays the site Health.com.
All in all to encourage Americans to get vaccinated
Two respiratory diseases over the same period, two potential epidemics, crowded intensive care units: Doctor Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases comes to implore the American population to do their best to avoid one of the two pathologies, namely the flu, by getting vaccinated. By November 1, California has required 230,000 employees and 280,000 students to be vaccinated.
Especially since what worries doctors is the similarity of symptoms between the two viruses. Flu patients would risk thinking they were sick with the coronavirus and going to the hospital, which would put them in more danger than anything else…
In the United Kingdom and Australia too, vaccination is on the minds. The UK government expanded the flu vaccination program at the end of July. It is now free for people over 50, more vulnerable groups and young children. The stated objective across the Channel is to vaccinate 30 million people. In Australia, we have been vaccinating en masse for several weeks.
Lack of confidence and scientists torn
The problem is that this flu vaccine is not unanimous in the United States… In fall-winter 2018/2019, only 45.3% of adults had been vaccinated against the flu in the United States. The vaccine does not convince. And if confidence is low in general, it is even more so on the side of African-American communities.
On the other hand, a paradox torments scientists: we must get vaccinated now to have time to treat everyone before the arrival of the flu, but the earlier the vaccine is administered, the less effective it is against the virus… “Getting vaccinated in July or August is too early, especially for the elderly,” points out the CDC. September and October would be more appropriate, but if everyone decides to do it at this time, the vaccination centers will be overwhelmed… The objective being to have administered 98 million doses by this winter in the United States. United.
In any case, everyone agrees that not getting vaccinated would be the worst case scenario. So, across the Atlantic, advertising is pulling out the heavy artillery until October 31: billboards in the street, social networks, television, radio… The American government is planning vaccination tents in parking lots, ephemeral clinics in empty schools, pharmacists will also be able to vaccinate.
In France, the vaccination campaign is scheduled for mid-October
Seized by the General Directorate of Health, the High Authority for Health (HAS) considers, in a notice dated June 2, that the vaccination campaign against seasonal influenza in France must be carried out on the date provided for in the vaccination calendar, i.e. mid-October for metropolitan France and the overseas departments-regions of the Americas (Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyana ) and as soon as the vaccines are available in Mayotte, ideally in September. Health and medico-social professionals will be given priority. As well as people at risk of serious forms, has moreover clarified the HAS end of July.
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