Getting vaccinated against the flu and Covid at the same time: it's the " Annually, we will be reversing the clock. " that the health authorities hope to create in France, especially for people at risk, still insufficiently protected, at the start of the vaccination season on October 15, 2024. One of the major challenges is to "Anchoring the double flu-Covid vaccination " as " double protection for priority audiences", summarized Sarah Sauneron, deputy director general of Health, during a press conference on October 14.
“ Reducing pressure on a strained healthcare system“
Doctors, nurses, midwives and pharmacists can administer the two injections, which can be received in a row, without it being mandatory. More than 17.2 million French people are particularly invited to be vaccinated against these two viral pathologies which can, in some cases, have fatal consequences. The categories targeted as a priority are at risk of developing serious forms: those over 65, nursing home residents, people of all ages suffering from certain chronic diseases or severe obesity, pregnant women. Vaccination is also recommended for caregivers and those around vulnerable people (seniors, infants, etc.).
While the seasonal return of the flu is well known, Covid-19, which causes several epidemic waves each year, has added a health risk to the autumn-winter seasons, when other respiratory viruses also circulate, such as the one that causes bronchiolitis. Vaccination against the flu and Covid aims to " protect the most vulnerable, because it helps reduce serious forms and hospitalizations", but also has " reduce pressure on a heavily strained health system", stressed the representative of the Ministry of Health.
Another stated objective: to increase the level of flu vaccination among seniors and caregivers, which is in decline. Vaccination coverage for over-65s has declined " compared to the previous season, warned the general director of Public Health France Caroline Semaille, judging that " This is alarming because the patients hospitalized and in intensive care are over 65 years old.“.
Counter " weariness " And " beliefs“
This decline was also evident for seniors living in nursing homes, where flu vaccination coverage was last season the " lowest measured in recent years“, noted Capucine Ulian, medical advisor to the General Directorate of Social Cohesion. “ a little alarming » : the decline in flu vaccination among health professionals, including doctors (traditionally more vaccinated than nurses and nursing assistants), according to Caroline Semaille. Against Covid, the proportion of vaccinated seniors has increased in one year to around 30% last season, but « remains weak" she pointed out.
To explain the insufficient vaccination against flu and Covid, Sarah Sauneron mentioned a " fairly well-documented post-Covid vaccine fatigue and a belief that vaccination does not work, or not always". However, the vaccines against Covid and flu are " well adapted to the virus strains circulating " this season and " the benefits far outweigh the risks" , with " especially pain at the injection site " as side effects, assured Caroline Semaille.
For Covid, this year it will be a vaccine targeting the Omicron JN.1 variant, close to those that have been dominant for several weeks. Initially, only the Pfizer-BioNTech serum will be available. For influenza, three vaccines from different manufacturers, designed from the strains of the virus that are expected to circulate the most this season, can be used interchangeably. It is advisable to carry out the vaccination before the active circulation of influenza viruses, because the body needs, once vaccinated, two weeks to form the necessary antibodies.
The impact of influenza and Covid in the coming months in France remains unknown. Last season, influenza returned to a level close to that of before the Covid-19 pandemic, after two years heavily impacted by Covid. However, it caused 14,000 hospitalizations and more than 1,860 deaths, a figure probably lower than reality because it is based on incomplete death registers.
English 
French