The vaccination campaign against influenza A (H1N1) began on October 13. Outside the pandemic, it already causes between 8,000 and 14,500 deaths per year in France. Calls to be vaccinated against the flu have increased since the start of the school year, due to the health situation.
The vaccination campaign against influenza A (H1N1) begins today Tuesday October 13, it will last until January 31, 2021. In this context of pandemic, we must not forget that other diseases are still running in nature and are far from benign. The flu hits every winter between 2 and 6 million people and causes thousands of deaths.
In addition, the influenza virus is constantly evolving, and varies from year to year. This is why it is advisable to get vaccinated every year, and this year more than ever. It turns out to be a particularly serious for people at risk. It can cause complications and be fatal. This includes :
- people aged 65 and over;
- people under 65 with certain chronic diseases;
- pregnant women ;
- people suffering from obesity (body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 40);
- infants.
The vaccines available for the 2020-2021 season are called Influvac Tetra® and Vaxigrip Tetra® (tetravalent vaccines). You can get more information about this virus and the vaccination campaign on the Ameli website.
Vaccination: who takes priority?
The Minister of Solidarity and Health, Olivier Véran, insists on the fact that fragile people, but also frontline caregivers, go get the flu shot. The aim is thus tocontain the flu epidemic, but also of prevent cases combining the two viruses.
Priority people benefit from free vaccine. However, other populations such as children are not considered a priority, yet vaccination is recommended for them, especially those with medical conditions. Since October 10, 2019, the vaccine Influvac Tetra® is reimbursed for children and adolescents aged 3 to 17, whereas previously it was only reimbursed for adults. For all others, the price of the vaccine is included between € 6.20 and € 11.13 with a rate of 65% refund.
Why get vaccinated against the flu?
Get vaccinated protect yourself, But also protects healthcare professionals who are already overworked with the number of intensive care patients in hospitals. Each year, the flu is responsible for numerous hospitalizations and deaths. Information to be taken into account after the announcement of the reactivated white plan in Île-de-France to deal with theinflux of Covid-19 patients into intensive care units.
In the midst of the coronavirus epidemic, the High Authority of Health recommended in a May 2020 opinion to vaccinate people at risk against influenza as a priority. If you have already had Covid-19, Health Insurance recalls that it is not a contraindication to influenza vaccination if at the time of vaccination the person does not have no symptoms or fever. However, if you have contact with a positive patient, it is best to postpone vaccination until the end of the isolation period when you are free from symptoms.
It is also important to take into account that the vaccine does not become effective after 2 weeks.
A first case combining the coronavirus and influenza A in Mexico
What everyone dreaded. In addition to primarily attacking the same people, the two viruses primarily damage lungs and airways. 54-year-old Mexican patient contracted both Covid-19 and influenza A. But despite his history of cancer and obesity and chronic lung disease, his condition seems stable, said the director of epidemiology at the local health ministry. However, doctors cannot be sure about the effects of this stacking virus from a single case.
See also: 5 good news about the coronavirus
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