The flu vaccination campaign will begin on October 17, 2023 and health professionals agree on one point: for greater effectiveness, the targeted people – those over 65, fragile individuals such as children – must be vaccinated. vaccinate as soon as possible.
- The HAS has extended its recommendations for the flu vaccine to children without comorbidities aged 2 to 17 years.
- Pharmacists and nurses will be able to prescribe and administer this vaccine to 11-16 year olds.
- Health professionals recommend not waiting to get vaccinated.
With 9,000 deaths, 1 million consultations in primary care, more than 20,000 hospitalizations per year, the flu has a considerable impact on French health. The vaccination campaign – set up to curb the seasonal epidemic and protect people at risk – will begin on October 17, 2023.
“Covid-19 has made it clear that with a virus, we don’t just have a clinical presentation. This can range from no symptoms to death. But also that the vaccination policy is not necessarily there to avoid getting the disease, but to avoid serious forms”explains Dr. Anne Mosniergeneral practitioner and epidemiologist, during a meeting with the press organized by ViatrisSeptember 26, 2023. Despite this awareness, France still has a way to go in the fight against respiratory viruses. Flu vaccination coverage was 51.5% last year. A very low rate given the objective of 75% set by the WHO.
Flu : children are overrepresented in hospitals
To better fight against the Influenza virus and its serious consequences, the High Authority of Health (HAS) expanded its vaccination recommendations anti-flu to children without comorbidities aged 2 to 17 years old. They are indeed prime targets for the flu. According to network data Oscour recorded between 2011 and 2022, 37% of emergency room visits for influenza-related illness concern 2 to 14 year olds, while the latter only represent 16% of the population.
“These figures show that there is an over-representation of the pediatric population during influenza epidemics. The disease therefore affects children a lot, leading them to the emergency room or to a town consultation, or even to intensive care, but fortunately it is much rarer.”explains Dr. Catherine Weil-Olivier, pediatrician and former head of the general pediatrics department at the Paris and Colombes hospitals.
For the expert, flu vaccination for the youngest offer thus several advantages. Firstly, it preserves their health and reduces school absenteeism. In addition, numerous studies have shown that their vaccination helps reduce the spread of the disease within the population, particularly the elderly. Furthermore, this has the indirect effect of relieving tensions among community doctors and hospitals.
“All our health systems are on the verge of strangulation. The triple epidemic (covid, flu, VRS) of last year clearly showed this saturation effect”recalls Dr Anne Mosnier.
Flu vaccination: he fwould have plan to do it in October or early November
Children between 6 months and 9 years of age who have never been vaccinated against influenza are expected to receive 2 doses, at least 4 weeks apart. Faced with this particularity, Dr Catherine Weil-Olivier advises vaccination to be carried out at the start of the vaccination campaign. “Several studies have shown that we are really protected after the second dose. So for the children, he worth It’s better to give this first injection early enough. The second dose will then be scheduled for mid-November and they will thus be fully protected during the epidemic period.
This advice is not only valid for the youngest either. “People tend to wait. However, delaying a vaccine means taking the risk that it will never be done, because contamination has occurred. Of course, it is not necessary for everyone to be vaccinated on the 17th october. However, it is best to do this in October or early November. Vaccinations should not be postponed”specifies Dr Anne Mosnier.
Olivier Rozairecommunity pharmacist and President of theURPS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, shares the point of view of the two doctors: “don’t wait until you’ve had the flu and been hospitalized to tell yourself that the flu vaccine is useful. It’s the same principle as installing an alarm after a burglary… Above all that given the current state of the health system, it is better to avoid ending up in the emergency room in the middle of an epidemic”.
The pharmacist can vaccinate children from 11 years
A portion of children – now included in vaccination recommendations anti-flu of the HAS – will be able to receive their injection in a pharmacy. Indeed, another new feature of this 2023/2024 campaign: the pharmacist can now prescribe and administer all vaccines in the vaccination schedule from the age of 11 (except live attenuated vaccines in immunocompromised individuals).
“The extension of vaccination skills is a good thing for health professionals, but also for patients, because it simplifies the vaccination process and meets the need for immediacy,” noted Olivier Rozaire.
