Influenza vaccination: the campaign is moving forward

CISSS de la Côte-Nord is a few weeks ahead of previous years by launching today’s vaccination campaign. However, the campaign will target those at risk as available doses are decreasing.

The influenza virus is already circulating in the southern hemisphere, prompting health departments to submit a vaccination campaign to begin on October 6. It is now possible to make an appointment on the Clic Santé platform or by phone at 0967-1844407.

Dr. Jacqueline Loser, a nurse practitioner at the Regional Health Directorate, explains that the seasonal epidemic will undoubtedly be more severe than in the past two years: “In the past two years, people have protected themselves a lot by wearing a mask. These measures are no longer required until the virus spreads again.”

Recommended to whom?

The vaccine is provided free of charge to residents for whom it is recommended:

• People aged 75 and over
• Persons 6 months of age and older with chronic diseases
• Pregnant women with certain chronic diseases, throughout pregnancy, and healthy pregnant women, during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy
• Residents of all ages in residential and long-term care centers (CHSLDs) as well as intermediate resources
• People who live in remote and isolated communities (Minganie, Basse-Côte-Nord, Fermont, Schefferville and Kawawachikamach), with priority given to people at high risk of complications.

“We are focusing in the next few weeks on the people we recommend because we have a little less vaccinations than expected. Explains Ms. Lussier, who states that the risk of complications for the rest of the population is not high.

Co-administration of the two vaccines

To encourage vaccination, CISSS offers the possibility of vaccination against Covid-19 and influenza at the same time. This is only possible by making an appointment over the phone by calling 1-844-967407.