Since October 17, the French are invited to receive the flu vaccine. A campaign rejected after a particularly slow start. But is it too late to get the shot?
No. Although experts note that it takes two weeks for the product to be fully effective, the epidemic may not end soon. Last year, the epidemic lasted 19 weeks, almost five months, with influenza A and influenza B circulating one after the other.
The epidemic could therefore continue for some time, so there is still time to take the step.
“Increased circulation of the virus”
Currently, almost all of France is in an epidemic phase. The first week of January was marked by an “increase in the circulation of influenza viruses in France, with 11 epidemic regions”, the last being the Pays de la Loire region, Public Health France summarized in its weekly bulletin.
The health agency also notes an increase in medical procedures performed by SOS Médicos (+0.7 points) compared to the last week of December. Hospitalizations remain stable and represent 1.5% of cases, slightly less than visits to the emergency room, 1.6% of cases.
“We anticipate that we will still have at least two or three weeks of increase in the number of cases,” explained virology professor Bruno Lina this Wednesday, January 10 on BFMTV.
As indicated by several pharmacists in northwestern France, thousands of vaccines remain in drawers due to the population’s lack of enthusiasm. However, the dangers of the seasonal virus are still underestimated.
“When we have already had the flu, we know what it is and we get vaccinated. Only people who don’t know what it is are the ones who doubt it,” says a pharmacist from Saint-Nazaire, in Loire-Atlantique.
Every year, around 10,000 people die from the flu, mainly people who are vulnerable or suffer from comorbidities.
Source: BFM TV
