The flu shot, but here in Russia.

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Vyacheslav Prokofyev / TASS / Sipa U / SIPA

City pharmacies asked on Wednesday to be able to vaccinate all adults against influenza, in order to improve vaccination coverage during this period of the Covid-19 pandemic, if stocks allow.

"We want to extend vaccination to adults, even to those who are not in the target," said Gilles Bonnefond, president of the Union of Unions of Community Pharmacists (USPO) at a press conference.

The flu vaccination campaign primarily targets people who are vulnerable to the virus: over 65, people with chronic illness (diabetes, heart or respiratory failure, etc.) or severe obesity and pregnant women.

All eligible adults can collect the vaccine at the pharmacy on presentation of their health insurance voucher and be vaccinated as desired by a doctor, nurse, midwife or volunteer pharmacist.

2 to 6 million people affected each year

Seasonal flu affects 2 to 6 million people each year.

It causes tens of thousands of emergency room visits and kills 10,000 on average.

"If we combine influenza and Covid, it's panic," warned Gilles Bonnefond.

According to him, the public authorities are reluctant to extend their vaccination authorization to the entire adult population for fear of shortage, but "manufacturers have put about 20% of additional doses on the French market, that's a lot", he assures.

The USPO proposes to count the doses available in mid-November to see if it is possible to "increase vaccination coverage".

Adults who do not present a risk of complications “go to see their mum and dad in nursing homes, rub shoulders with fragile people.

If they protect themselves, they protect their families, ”insisted Gilles Bonnefond.

“But for these people who are in great shape, things have to go fast.

They do not want to spend two hours at the doctor to be vaccinated, ”he adds.

The USPO also wants to "go further on Covid tests".

To relieve medical biology laboratories, Gilles Bonnefond suggests that "the pharmaceutical network contributes to meeting needs" if the screening tests are carried out "with a simpler sample", for example saliva, and if the result can be obtained by "An easy method that does not require having a robot, having a whole series of equipment".

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