Appointments are made via the Clic Santé portal. Influenza vaccination is available free of charge to part of the population in vaccination centers and in pharmacies.
Public health hopes to reach 80% of the targeted clienteles, indicates Myriam Tremblay, nurse and advisor to the Public Health Department of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.
The vaccination campaign will be concentrated in October and November. Public health expects the influenza to spread further this fall and winter, whereas health measures related to COVID-19 had helped reduce its spread last fall and winter. The seasonal flu had then rather struck in the spring.
« Specialists are monitoring flu activity. We still have fewer measures [sanitaires]we have more gatherings, all that, so it could very well happen earlier this year, compared to last year, when there were more measures in place. »
On Wednesday afternoon, 445 people had made an appointment on Clic Santé.
Main target groups
Vaccination is particularly recommended for certain groups that are at higher risk of developing complications.
It’s better to get vaccinated, to avoid complications, because it also weighs down, for the health system, with complications, hospitalizations, deaths, too
adds Myriam Tremblay.
Children 6 months to 17 years old, as well as adults, who have a chronic disease can receive the vaccine.
Pregnant women who are in their second or third trimester can also receive it. Those who are in their first trimester but have a chronic condition are also eligible.
The vaccination campaign is also aimed at people aged 75 and over.
Other eligible persons
People who live under the same roof as a person at risk, as well as health care workers, can also be vaccinated.
Vaccination is also offered to children aged 6 to 23 months and people aged 60 to 74 who are in good health.
Those who wish to be vaccinated, but who are not part of the targeted groups, must turn to pharmacies and private clinics and pay the cost of the vaccine.
The vaccination campaign will continue for as long as necessary. It will continue until the peak has passed. We are monitoring flu activity, at some point we see that it calms down, it has passed. So, from that moment, we stop making a systematic offer
says Myriam Tremblay.
COVID-19: booster dose and bivalent vaccine
It will also be possible for eligible individuals to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as the flu vaccine.
If it’s been more than five months, we will offer you the vaccine, either at the vaccination site or when making an appointment. The co-administration to be given, the two vaccines at the same time, is a good way, it is effective, but there are no more side effects when you have both vaccines
says nurse Myriam Tremblay.
In addition, attendance at vaccination centers has increased in the region since the arrival of the bivalent vaccine, almost three weeks ago. This vaccine is more effective against the Omicron variant.
About 2,800 people a week were vaccinated shortly before the arrival of the bivalent vaccine, according to data from the Integrated University Center for Health and Social Services (CIUSSS) in the region.
In the last two weeks, nearly 4700 and 4300 people have been vaccinated. the CIUSSS expects an increase this week, when nearly 2,200 people have already been vaccinated in total on Monday and Tuesday.