The senior citizens fear getting vaccinated against flu, according to a study published in the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin (BEH) of the Public Health France agency. More than half of them are worried about the side effects of the flu vaccine, as a result, they would not protect against this viral infection.
A population at risk with little protection
Vaccination against influenza for 65-75 year olds is not up to the risks they run. In fact, according to the conclusions of this study, less than half of this at-risk population (45.9%) declared having been vaccinated in the winter of 2015-2016. However, individuals in this age group are the most at risk of death and serious complications.
Seniors fear side effects
While the vast majority (81.3%) of 65-75 year olds say that fluis a serious disease, and common, more than a third (35.7%) do not believe in the effectiveness of the vaccine and almost half (46.9%) believe that it can cause serious side effects, according to the 2016 health barometer.
However, the World Health Organization recalls that the influenza vaccine is “considered safe and that causes only” classic and mild side effects “: local reactions at the injection site, fever or muscle pain.
The flu vaccine: real protection
Contents of the rapidly changing evolution of the influenza virus, the vaccine designed before the actual onset of the epidemic, may ultimately prove to be less effective. But, “even with moderate efficacy, the overall impact on elderly mortality remains significant. Over the period 2000-2009, more than 2,000 deaths per year were prevented thanks to vaccination, with an average efficacy of the vaccine in the elderly estimated at 35%. And vaccination coverage increased to 75% would prevent an additional 3,000 ”, according to the same study by Public Health France.
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