Headlines - Seasonal Flu Vaccination Campaign: The Drive Continues

The seasonal flu vaccination campaign runs from October 10, 2014, through January 31, 2015. As in previous years, Medicare covers 100% of the cost of the vaccine for individuals targeted by the vaccination recommendations of the High Council for Public Health (HCSP). This vaccination is therefore recommended for all individuals aged 65 and older and for certain categories of people considered vulnerable. This includes pregnant women, patients with certain chronic conditions, and individuals with morbid obesity. The HCSP also recommends continued vaccination for healthcare workers. The vaccine’s effectiveness is limited in duration. Antibody levels persist for 6 to 8–9 months in people aged 65 and older. This is why it is necessary to get the vaccine every year. Made from inactivated viruses, the vaccine is well tolerated by the body and cannot cause the flu under any circumstances. The vaccine’s composition is adjusted annually based on the viral strains that circulated the previous winter and are therefore most likely to be present again this year. This year, the vaccine is identical to last year’s:

• a strain similar to A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09;

• a strain similar to A/Texas/50/2012 (H3N2);

• a strain similar to B/Massachusetts/2/2012 (Yamagata).

The InVS estimates that 2,000 deaths can be prevented each year among people aged 65 and older thanks to current vaccination rates and the effectiveness of the vaccines. Higher vaccination coverage would further increase this impact. The flu vaccine is the only effective way to protect yourself against the virus and the complications of the disease. Vaccination also helps protect others, particularly the most vulnerable people in your circle. Strong engagement from healthcare professionals who work with at-risk individuals is essential.