Despite a good start to the campaign, seniors remain the most difficult to convince.
This year again, the flu vaccination campaign has started well: more than 8 million doses have already been injected, often directly in pharmacies. However, one point worries professionals: those aged 65 and over, who are the most vulnerable to the flu, are not vaccinated enough. According to data from Public Health France, their vaccination coverage stagnates at around 60%, while almost one in two hospitalizations linked to flu concerns this age group.
In the field, pharmacists see the same hesitations returning. Some seniors fear “getting sick after the vaccine”. Others believe that they “don’t need it” or that they “have always done without”. National surveys also show that, among unvaccinated elderly people, more than 40% believe that the vaccine is “useless”. Post-Covid weariness also plays a role: many feel like they have been stretched too thin in recent years. “The challenge for pharmacy teams is to reach out to people aged 65 and over and convince them of the importance of vaccination” said David Syr, general manager of GERS Data, to the Pharmacist’s Quotidien.
However, pharmacies have never made access to vaccination so much easier. Today, a simple visit is enough to receive your dose, without an appointment, from a pharmacist. We often come across people there who would not have taken the time to consult elsewhere. But, despite this accessibility, convincing the most vulnerable remains difficult, even though they are the most at risk of pneumonia, hospitalization or decompensation of a chronic illness.
How to create the click? In practice, a few minutes to answer doubts, reminding people that the flu is not a simple cold and that it can cause serious complications after the age of 65, are sometimes enough to remove the brakes. Raising the subject when delivering chronic treatment can also make all the difference: the person is there, available, and open to discussion.
The family also has a key role. A discussion over a meal, a kind reminder or even offering to accompany a parent to the pharmacy can encourage people to take the plunge. Vaccination protects the elderly, but also their loved ones, including grandchildren. And avoiding a severe flu means avoiding weeks of fatigue, avoidable hospitalization, or sometimes worse.
This year, the challenge is clear: maintain the momentum of the campaign… and convince those who need it most.
