2023-12-11 20:00:00
“Quietly but surely”, Covid returns and the flu epidemic is expected for the end of year celebrations in the Pyrénées-Orientales. Only 25% of the most vulnerable are vaccinated according to Santé Publique France, 9% of caregivers in nursing homes and 18% of residents. “This prepares us for an epidemiological rebound among the most vulnerable at the start of the year,” warns the head of the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department at Perpignan hospital, Hugues Aumaître.
Obviously, anti-covid and even flu vaccinations are no longer really popular in December 2023?
Indeed, we feel a relaxation. However, now is the time. In the Pyrénées-Orientales, the Covid epidemic is taking hold once more slowly but surely. And the flu is coming for these end-of-year holidays. The most fragile and the oldest must be vaccinated, it is essential. A reminder, the flu vaccination is every year. Against Covid, it is six months following the last dose or infection. With Covid, the most fragile lose their immunity more quickly. You must put the mask back on when you have symptoms and cough. People cough on buses, in the theater, in the office, in the cinema without a mask, as if nothing had happened. We really need to put it back on to protect others, especially the most vulnerable. Of course, today, we cannot impose the mask on everyone once more, but it is not complicated to say to ourselves: “when I cough, I put on the mask”.
Are you worried regarding the vaccination rate of caregivers, particularly in nursing homes?
The latest statistics from Public Health France are edifying: only 9% of caregivers in nursing homes are vaccinated throughout France. And barely 17.5% of residents. It’s irresponsible. Many residents will spend festive meals with family and risk being contaminated and therefore contaminating on their return. We must vaccinate these most vulnerable. In addition, only 25% of those over 80 have had the flu vaccine, which is really not enough.
Two other epidemics are also present in the Pyrénées-Orientales…
Yes. The bronchiolitis is still there. It has a strong impact on pediatric services. We also find cases of “atypical pneumonia”. We used to have peaks every 5 or 6 years for a while. This year she is back. It is believed that wearing a mask during the covid period had helped to keep it away. Children 4 or 5 years old today have never encountered this bacteria. There is no herd immunity. There is no vaccine for this, we treat it with antibiotics. But here too, we must remember that antibiotics are not automatic. Once once more, let’s put on the mask when we cough or have symptoms.
1702327313
#Covid #flu #coming #endofyear #holidays #absolutely #wear #mask #cough
