The indicators are bad everywhere in France. In hospitals, as in community medicine, the number of flu cases has only increased since the start of the year.
The most vulnerable are not vaccinated enough
Seasonal flu is intensifying in France. To deal with the significant circulation of the virus, the vaccination campaign has just been extended until February 29. A downside: the most vulnerable are not sufficiently vaccinated against the flu. As proof, only one in two people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is vaccinated, according to a new French study.
The flu epidemic has spread to all regions of France, as well as Corsica and a wider part of Overseas. According to the Sentinels network, the incidence rate of acute respiratory infections, including influenza, was estimated at 299 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (around 200,000 new cases compared to the previous week), a sharp increase compared to that from the previous week.
SOS Médecins, for its part, noted during the week of January 22 to 28, that consultations for flu/flu-like illness were on the rise in all age groups. As for visits to emergency rooms and hospitalizations for flu/flu-like illness, the OSCOUR network notes that they are also increasing in a comparable manner between age groups (+ 47%).
Why do we need to protect the most vulnerable?
For vulnerable people, vaccination is the first step to take to protect themselves from the flu. While vaccination does not always prevent the flu, it reduces the risk of complications or death. But vaccination is far from being an absolute shield: the effectiveness rate of the seasonal vaccine varies from 40 to 60% depending on the age groups and the strains in circulation. The good news is that the A/H1N1 type influenza strain which is currently circulating in the majority is included in the composition of the vaccine for this 2023-2024 season.
On average, in France, 2,000 lives per year are saved each year among seniors aged 65 and over thanks to vaccination.
What vaccines are available?
Four tetravalent influenza vaccines protecting against 4 virus strains are available this year. Fluarix Tetra®, Influvac Tetra® and Vaxigrip Tetra® can be given to anyone, including children 2 to 17 years old. Efluelda® can be administered to people aged 65 and over. For populations at risk, including seniors, the vaccine is fully covered by Health Insurance.
COPD: one in two people vaccinated against the flu
Individuals suffering from respiratory failure, particularly those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are at significant risk of developing a severe form of influenza infection. Despite this, they are largely undervaccinated. Numerous international surveys have in fact revealed disappointing rates of influenza vaccination in populations at risk, ranging from 23% in general, up to 70% within very selected populations. A study wanted to know the proportion of French patients with COPD who were not vaccinated against the flu.
As indicated by Dr Maéva Zysman, pulmonologist at Bordeaux University Hospital, who presented his national study based on the Health Insurance database at the pulmonology congress (CPLF, January 26-28, 2024, Lille), “only 53, 3% of COPD patients were vaccinated against influenza. Unvaccinated subjects were generally younger, slightly more often women, more often encountered difficulties in accessing care and had fewer concomitant diseases with COPD (comorbidities such as as asthma, cardiovascular diseases, etc.).” For the pulmonologist, this rate “remains dramatically low and vaccination of COPD people must become a priority public health strategy.”
Vaccination does not exempt from barrier gestures
Barrier gestures reduce the risk of being contaminated by the virus and limit its spread during an epidemic: wash your hands frequently with liquid soap for 30 seconds, particularly after blowing your nose, sneezing, coughing, having gone to the toilet, having used public transport and of course going to the toilet. In the absence of water and soap, use a hydroalcoholic solution. Use a disposable tissue and if this is not possible, cough and sneeze into your elbow. Avoid touching your face. Refrain from shaking hands or kissing when greeting. Make sure to ventilate your home regularly to reduce the concentration of germs, especially flu viruses.
