Then the coronavirus and the flu will circulate at the same time, the health authorities underline the major importance of a high anti-influenza vaccination coverage among fragile people and health professionals.
- For this vaccination campaign, the objective is to approach 75% coverage among vulnerable people.
- Vaccination against influenza remains very insufficient among health professionals.
“In the unprecedented health context that France has been experiencing for several months, this new edition of the influenza vaccination campaign will give, even more than in previous years, priority to the vaccination of the most fragile people and caregivers”. In a press release, the ANSM, supported by the health authorities, pleads for a massive vaccination against the flu, which it is possible to carry out from Tuesday October 13 until January 31, 2021.
Approaching 75% vaccination coverage
Every winter, 2 to 6 million people are affected by the flu virus, which is manifested by symptoms such as high fever, cough, pain, intense fatigue… This disease is sometimes fatal, especially for fragile people, who may develop pneumonia or see an existing chronic disease worsen.
During the 2019-2020 season, the surveillance carried out by Santé Publique France showed that three-quarters of people admitted to intensive care for severe influenza presented at least one of the risk factors (age, chronic pathology, pregnancy, obesity). However, of these, less than a third had been vaccinated.
“For this vaccination campaign, the objective is to approach 75% coverage as recommended by the WHO among the people targeted by the recommendations”, continues the ANSM. Last year, the vaccination coverage rate of the population targeted by these recommendations was only 47.8%. It reached 52% for those over 65 but was only 30% for those under 65 at risk. Moreover, “it remains very insufficient among health professionals, with great heterogeneity observed, particularly in health establishments and in nursing homes”, insists the health agency.
Facebook bans anti-vaccination ads
“The adoption of all barrier gestures and compliance with the recommendations on wearing a mask to prevent Covid-19 also remain essential for the entire population, because they also help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. flu”, concludes the ANSM.
In the same dynamic, the social network Facebook announced on Tuesday October 13 that it would henceforth ban advertisements seeking to dissuade users from getting vaccinated.
