Influenza: too few people at risk vaccinated

The flu has caused 13,000 deaths during the 2017-2018 influenza season. Yet just half of people at risk and only a quarter of health professionals are vaccinated, says the Ministry of Health, which has launched a charter to encourage them. The information campaign will take place on television with a spot starting on October 26, 2018, and for the first time at the end of each weather report on France 2 and France 3.

Only a quarter of health professionals are vaccinated against influenza

Globally 26% of health professionals are vaccinated, according to the ministry. "By being vaccinated themselves, not only health professionals lead by example, but most importantly, they protect their patients", said Thursday, October 18, 2018 the Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn, presenting the charter signed with the Orders of Midwives, pharmacists, mbadeurs-physiotherapists, doctors, nurses, dentists and pedicures -podologists. "This is for me an ethical issue"she continued.

Less than half of the population at risk is vaccinated

Like every year, the ministry launches a campaign to remember simple actions – wash your hands, avoid contact if you are infected, etc. – and encourage people at risk to be vaccinated: people over 65, chronically ill or severely obese and pregnant women, more than 12 million people. Less than half are vaccinated (45.6% in 2017-18), far from the WHO recommendations (75%). These people at risk pay a heavy price every year: of the 13,000 deaths attributed to influenza last season, 85% occurred in people over 75 years. Of the 3,000 serious cases admitted to intensive care, 81% were part of this population at risk, of which more than two-thirds were not yet vaccinated. The flu encumbered every year emergencies, already under pressure, said the minister. 75,000 emergency room visits are linked to the flu. "Every year we are crushed to see old people waiting on stretchers in the emergency room"said Ms. Buzyn.

Ideas received about the influenza vaccine

Of course, the vaccine is not everything: during the last influenza season, its effectiveness was rather mediocre, because one of the two circulating viruses (B lineage Yamagata) was not part of the vaccine viruses. But it is estimated that vaccination prevents 2,000 deaths each year. If 63% of people at risk were vaccinated, we would have 2,500 fewer deaths. This season, the vaccines will be mostly quadrivalent, with two A viruses and two B viruses (including that of 2017), following the recommendation of WHO.

The French are rather well informed, according to a survey conducted by BVA for the ministry. 70% know that the vaccine is the first act of protection against the flu. But conventional wisdom has a hard time: 52% think that the vaccine can give the flu, while it can at worst cause pain to the point of puncture and a temporary headache, according to Daniel Lévy-Bruhl, head of the vaccination at Public Health France. "In no case the vaccine can give the flu because it is a piece of killed virus, not a live virus ". Advertisements can also be misleading, like those touting a "homeopathic vaccine"."There is no homeopathic vaccine, I'm insulting myself", said the President of the Order of Pharmacists Carine Wolf-Thal who"invites regional councils (of the Ordre des pharmaciens) to lodge a complaint if they receive such advertisements".

IN PHARMACY. The adults for whom the vaccine is recommended can withdraw it at the pharmacy on presentation of the 100% health insurance voucher, and be vaccinated by a doctor, a nurse or a midwife. In 4 test regions (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Hauts-de-France, New Aquitaine, Occitania) they can also be vaccinated in pharmacy. From the 2019-20 season, it will be possible throughout France.