Flu: Vaccination campaign has begun, it is possible to get vaccinated against Covid-19 at the same time
Every year, autumn is the time to get vaccinated against the flu. A vaccination campaign is planned for this time of year to ensure that the population—especially the most vulnerable—is protected before the start of the epidemic, which generally begins in November. The flu vaccination campaign, coupled with the one against Covid-19, began on October 14 in France.
Vaccination against influenza and Covid-19 is recommended for:
- people aged 65 and over,
- people suffering from certain chronic diseases, including obesity,
- pregnant women,
- people staying in a follow-up care facility or in a medical-social accommodation facility regardless of their age.
Vaccination is also recommended for healthcare professionals and those around infants at risk of severe illness and immunocompromised individuals. "In addition to those at risk for influenza, vaccination against Covid is also recommended for people with psychiatric disorders, dementia, or Down syndrome," the Directorate General of Health also specified.
Vaccination is fully covered for the 19 million people for whom the vaccine is recommended, specifies the Health Insurance . All you need to do is go to the pharmacy with your Vitale card and your Health Insurance coverage voucher, which should be received. For children aged 2 to 17 without illness, the vaccine is reimbursed at 65%. Both the flu and Covid-19 vaccines can be administered at the same time.
A very intense epidemic in 2024-2025: the resultsThe 2024-2025 flu epidemic was marked by "significant scale and severity," according to Public Health France . 30,000 people were hospitalized, and more than 17,000 people died. The 2024-2025 epidemic was "early" and lasted 12 weeks—two weeks longer than average—with a peak in early January.
In a previous report , Public Health France noted that this season was "marked by a very high number of serious cases admitted to intensive care," the majority of whom were not vaccinated against the flu. According to the institute, flu vaccination coverage was indeed "insufficient": less than half of the targeted people were vaccinated, and only 25% among those under 65 at risk of severe disease. But this is not the only reason for the severity of this epidemic. The vaccine had only "moderate efficacy," which was, for example, only 38% among those aged 65 and over.
This extremely contagious virus is always transmitted in the same way, regardless of the strain in circulation. It is transmitted by saliva droplets, which are spread by speaking, coughing or sneezing, as the Health Insurance website reminds us. It is also possible to transmit the flu via infected objects, such as subway poles or door handles...
To avoid transmitting the flu, it is important to follow protective measures: cough into your elbow and not into your hand, use single-use tissues and throw them in a bin immediately after use, and wear a mask in public spaces when you are sick. It is also advisable to ventilate rooms regularly, especially in crowded areas, such as classrooms or offices. Remember to wash your hands regularly, with soap or hydroalcoholic gel, and avoid shaking hands or kissing each other to say hello.
What are the symptoms of the flu?From about 48 hours after infection with the flu, the incubation period, several symptoms appear suddenly:
- a high fever (around 39°),
- intense fatigue,
- aches and pains,
- headaches,
- sore throat,
- a cough.
Most symptoms stop after about a week, but fatigue and coughing may persist beyond that. People infected with the flu are contagious from the day before symptoms appear for up to a week.
In vulnerable people, however, the flu can cause more severe symptoms. Complications such as pneumonia are possible. Each year, approximately 10,000 people die from the flu.
Given that these symptoms are very similar to those of Covid-19, even if it is circulating less frequently, if in doubt, it is possible to do a PCR flu and Covid test at the pharmacy which can therefore detect both viruses.
Treatment for the flu is based solely on symptom relief, with painkillers (preferably paracetamol) to combat fever and aches, as well as rest and hydration. It is useless—and even unhealthy—to take antibiotics, since they are only effective against infections caused by bacteria, whereas the flu is caused by a virus. Antiviral medications are available, but they are only prescribed for vulnerable people.
L'Internaute
