The vaccination campaign against seasonal flu – possibly combined with a booster against Covid – got underway in France this Tuesday, with the French health authorities hoping to encourage people to take up the double vaccination – especially those at risk.
According to Sarah Sauneron, Deputy Director-General of Health, one of the major challenges is to "anchor the dual influenza-Covid vaccination as double protection for priority groups".
Doctors, nurses, midwives and pharmacists are authorised give the two injections, which can be given back-to-back, although this is not compulsory.
More than 17.2 million French people are being urged to be vaccinated against the two viruses, which can in some cases have fatal consequences.
The priority target groups at risk of developing serious forms of the disease are the over-65s, residents of nursing homes, people of all ages suffering from certain chronic illnesses and pregnant women.
The vaccinations are also recommended for carers and those around vulnerable people.
'Protecting the most vulnerable'
While the seasonal return of flu is well known, Covid-19 – which comes in several epidemic waves each year – has added a health risk to the autumn and winter seasons, when other respiratory viruses are also circulating, such as bronchiolitis.
Speaking on Monday ahead of the vaccine campaign launch, Sauneron emphasised that the aim of vaccinating against flu and Covid is to "protect the most vulnerable, by reducing the number of serious cases and hospital admissions ... but also to reduce the pressure on a health system that is under great strain".
Another aim of the campaign is to raise the level of flu vaccination among the elderly, but also among healthcare workers, which is in decline.
France's health authorities have remarked that the vaccination coverage of the over-65s has fallen, a trend that is particularly alarming because the majority of patients hospitalised and in intensive care are the over 65 years of age.
(With newswires)
