Alerting to a delay in vaccination compared to last year, pharmacists’ unions fear a very virulent flu epidemic this winter.
- Each year, there are two to six million cases of flu in France, according to Santé Publique France. This seasonal epidemic causes between 10,000 and 15,000 deaths per year, mainly among vulnerable people.
- The flu is caused by the Influenza virus. The first symptoms are usually high fever, intense fatigue, body aches and headaches. Influenza vaccination must be renewed every year.
A “very significant delay” : fearing a flu epidemic “particularly intense” this winter, the two main pharmacists’ unions expressed their concern about the vaccination rate of the French, down from last year.
An 18.3% drop in the number of flu vaccinations
Indeed, as of November 18, more than a month after the official launch of the flu vaccination campaign, some 7 million doses had been distributed, compared to 8.6 million over the same period in 2021. That’s 18, 3% less, according to figures collected from 14,000 of the 20,000 French pharmacies and published by the company IQVIAhealth data specialist.
In a Press releasethe Uspo syndicate “sound the alarm” on this fall “particularly disturbing” vaccination coverage. He recommends that pharmacists be “proactive” and of “ask their patients if they are vaccinated against the flu and encourage them to update”.
???? USPO Sounds Alarm on Drop in Flu Vaccine Coverage
➡️We advise pharmacists to be proactive, ask their patients if they are vaccinated against the flu and encourage them to updatehttps://t.co/5mI8qLJapw pic.twitter.com/MOaGAIb9Oi— USPO – Community Pharmacists (@USPO_Pharmacies) November 18, 2022
A “general fatigue” towards vaccination?
“It’s a bit of a disaster this year”confirms to AFP Philippe Besset, president of the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France (FSPF), the first trade union in the profession. Especially since this reduction in the vaccination rate concerns above all the so-called “priority” public (seniors, chronically ill, pregnant women, etc.), who were entitled to a injection reserved until November 15. He points a “general fatigue towards vaccination” and one “delay” it will be “very difficult” to catch up without “important communication campaign”.
We must act quickly, confirmed the Minister of Health, François Braun, on RTLbecause “the indicators of the arrival of the flu have started to light up in Brittany”which entered the pre-epidemic phase at the beginning of the month, and that the emerging epidemic is looming “virulent”. The Minister nevertheless wanted to reassure, affirming that our health system will be able to “endure the arrival of the flu if everyone does their part” and “if the most vulnerable people get vaccinated”.
As a reminder, you have until January 31, 2023, the end date of the vaccination campaign, to have the flu serum injected. For more information, it’s here.
