This Tuesday, until January 31, the national flu vaccination campaign takes place. This year more than others, people at risk are urged to get vaccinated.
With the hospitals’ overload due to the COVID crisis, the flu vaccination is of critical importance. Every year, this virus causes a significant number of hospitalizations and can lead to up to 650,000 deaths worldwide according to the WHO, including over 8,000 in France. Since 2015, the Vacci’Nice operation allows the residents of Nice to receive a free vaccination, thanks to various mutual insurance companies and the primary health insurance fund (CPAM). This initiative unites 27 public and private entities in partnership with pharmacists, nurses, the medical board, and many others.
Each year, few people get vaccinated against the flu. In 2020, it is important to get vaccinated due to the coronavirus epidemic that is overloading hospitals. Currently, 26 people are hospitalized at the Nice University Hospital for COVID treatment. This figure has decreased over the last three weeks (60 people were hospitalized at the time of the September prefectural announcements), but it needs to continue to drop to make room for those affected by the flu.
The vaccine remains a way to differentiate between the flu and COVID
“We are going to have two flu syndromes arriving. One, which is already present, is that of COVID, joint pain, headaches, fever… it’s the flu-like syndrome,” recalls the deputy mayor of Nice in charge of health, Dr. Richard Chemla. “So to differentiate between the flu and COVID, there is only one thing to do, get vaccinated. Once the vaccine is done, if you have flu symptoms, it means you have COVID. You will save time and also protect all seniors around you from getting the flu,” Dr. Chemla emphasizes.
To get vaccinated, three public centers are accessible by phone reservation at 04.92.17.44.90. They are located on Rue Hancy, in Ariane, and at Les Moulins. Once an appointment is made, individuals are attended to upon entry. It all starts with a forehead temperature check. Then, a counter manages the various administrative procedures before being directed to the waiting room prior to vaccination.
Vaccination services will visit seniors’ homes for better organization, as well as for healthcare professionals and staff in nursing homes (EHPAD), the city of Nice, the Metropolis, and the CCAS.
