In Brittany, vaccination against meningitis B is continuing. A booster injection was organized as part of the campaign targeting Dinan and its surroundings.
The La-fontaine-des-eaux high school in Dinan (Côtes-d’Armor) is recalling its students. With difficulty. A vaccination campaign against meningitis B is organized within the establishment. After a first series, in May, the recall wave took place on June 22 and 23. But at the end of the school year, few teenagers showed up to receive the second injection.
900 young people have registered for this second series of vaccination against meningitis B. This is very little compared to the objectives set by the Regional Health Agency (ARS) of Brittany. The target population of the campaign reaches 6,000 adolescents living in 47 municipalities between Dinan and Broons.
In these two cities, several cases of meningitis were recently detected in high school students. After investigation, the ARS concluded that the bacteria causing the disease were circulating. And strongly recommended that young people protect themselves from it by vaccination.
One in two teenagers protected
This campaign is not mandatory, but it must stop the spread of the bacteria that causes meningitis B. To achieve this, the ARS wants to facilitate access to the vaccine. During the campaign, it is issued free of charge to people at risk. They can perform the injection at the Lycée de Dinan or with their doctor or nurse.
Despite the low participation, ARS Bretagne is not alarmed. “The students are no longer there,” explains Telegram Pierre Guillaumot, Deputy Director Health Watch and Safety. They will certainly go to their GP for the injection. By the end of the summer, the ARS estimates that 50 to 60% of the target population will be protected. So far, 3,500 adolescents have received a first dose.
As a reminder, 5 cases of invasive meningococcal infection in schools in Dinan and Broons, in the space of a few months, are at the origin of this alert. The bacteria subtype collected from all patients was similar.
A toll-free number has been set up to inform the inhabitants of the region: 0 800 35 00 17. An e-mail has also been set up: ars-bretagne-infomeningo@ars.sante.fr.
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