Vaccinate to protect yourself

How can you protect yourself from the flu and related complications?

Vaccination is the most effective way of protecting yourself from annual seasonal flu, and the complications it can bring.

A new vaccine for seasonal flu has to be developed each year, because the flu virus is constantly mutating.

When should you get vaccinated?

Vaccination against seasonal flu is recommended each year from October onwards.

15 days after vaccination, your immune system will be prepared to take on the flu virus. Immunity lasts at least 6 months.

Who should get the vaccine?

Anyone (including children) can be vaccinated against seasonal flu. This will prevent them from passing on the virus to the most vulnerable.

In addition, the Health Directorate (Direction de la santé) strongly recommends you get vaccinated if you belong to one of these groups:

High-risk population groups
  • People over 65 years of age;
  • Adults and children suffering from chronic lung and heart conditions, and children suffering from bronchial asthma;
  • Adults and children suffering from kidney disease or chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes;
  • Adults and children whose natural defences have been lowered, either
    • by an illness such as HIV,
    • or by medical treatment – e.g. patients taking high doses of corticosteroids;
  • Adults and children suffering sickle-cell anaemia or other haemoglobinopathies;
  • Adults and children suffering from conditions that compromise respiratory function and the evacuation of secretions, or with a high risk of aspiration, such as a mental disability, a condition affecting the spinal marrow, epileptic fits, or neuromuscular conditions;
  • Children suffering conditions that require long-term salicylate-based treatments, such as Kawasaki disease, and rheumatological conditions;
  • Pregnant women;
  • People living in an enclosed community in retirement homes or care institutions.

Population groups likely to pass the flu on to people at high risk
  • Employees of care homes and retirement homes;
  • People living in the same household as an at-risk person;
  • Doctors, nurses and other patient-facing healthcare professionals;
  • Crèche employees, and people taking care of children under 2 years of age, including their parents and siblings.

Groups of people who ought to be vaccinated for socioeconomic reasons
  • Teachers, bus drivers, doctors, and caregivers.

How does it work?

  1. Your general practitioner will administer the vaccine to you.
  2. Talk to your doctor to obtain a prescription.
  3. The vaccine is available from pharmacies on prescription.
  4. Make an appointment with your doctor to get your vaccination.
  5. It will take around two weeks for your immune system to build up optimal defence. You will remain protected for around 6 months.

All adult flu vaccines are administered by intramuscular injection in the upper arm. Flu vaccination requires only one injection, but you need a new one every year.

Important: For children under the age of nine, two doses, administered one month apart, are recommended.

The cost of flu vaccination

The flu vaccine is available free of charge to any person meeting one of the following conditions:

  • People over 65 years of age;
  • Adults and children suffering from chronic lung and heart conditions, and children suffering from bronchial asthma;
  • Adults and children suffering from kidney disease or chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes;
  • Adults and children whose natural defences have been lowered, either
    • by an illness such as HIV,
    • or by medical treatment – e.g. patients taking high doses of corticosteroids;
  • Adults and children suffering sickle-cell anaemia or other haemoglobinopathies;
  • Adults and children suffering from conditions that compromise respiratory function and the evacuation of secretions, or with a high risk of aspiration, such as a mental disability, a condition affecting the spinal marrow, epileptic fits, or neuromuscular conditions;
  • Children suffering conditions that require long-term salicylate-based treatments, such as Kawasaki disease, and rheumatological conditions;
  • Pregnant women.

The vaccine is available from pharmacies on prescription. The cost will be borne by the National Health Fund (Caisse nationale de santé - CNS).

You can find more information about funding of the vaccine on the CNS website.

Dernière Campagne de vaccination contre la grippe

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