More than a third of vulnerable people had already been vaccinated against the flu at the end of October compared to 19% at the same time last year, Public Health France announced on Wednesday (December 16th).
Read also: No shortage of flu vaccines, according to the government
The flu vaccination campaign started on October 13 and primarily targets vulnerable people and caregivers.
The authorities have this year particularly encouraged the French to be vaccinated, in order to avoid a congestion of the emergency services already confronted with the Covid-19 pandemic.
As of October 31, “
coverage in France rose from 19.0% to 34.2% (+15.2 points) for all subjects at risk
"(People aged 65 and over as well as people with certain chronic pathologies), compared to the same date in 2019, said the health agency in its weekly epidemiological bulletin devoted to influenza.
In detail, it increased by 13.4 points in at-risk subjects under 65 years of age (11.9% to 25.3%) and by 15.9 points in subjects over 65 years of age (from 20 , 7% to 36.6%), specifies SPF, which analyzed reimbursement data for influenza vaccines.
In addition, there is "
no active circulation of influenza viruses identified by dedicated surveillance networks
", notes SPF, which recalls that "
physical distancing and barrier gestures are essential to limit the spread of the epidemic of Covid-19 and other viruses
”.
This year, the government ordered 30% more doses, added to the 13 million of the usual circuit.