HAS opinion relating to the launch of the 2021/2022 vaccination campaign against seasonal influenza in France in the northern hemisphere and in Mayotte in the context of the 'Covid-19 epidemic - May 12, 2021.

In the referral of March 23, 2021, the General Directorate of Health (DGS) questioned the High Authority for Health (HAS) about the launch date of the 2021-2022 influenza vaccination campaign in the northern hemisphere and in Mayotte , in the current particular context linked to the active circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and the vaccination campaign against Covid-19 underway on the national territory.

In this context, HAS recalls:

• that in the absence of data specifically demonstrating the absence of interaction during the co-administration of vaccines against Covid-19 with other vaccines, an interval of at least 14 days before and after administration of any other vaccine.
• that the population concerned by the influenza vaccination is in large majority already eligible and / or vaccinated against Covid-19. The current pace of vaccination against Covid-19 and the forecasts for the coming months in terms of dose deliveries should make it possible to avoid overlapping within the same target populations of the two vaccination campaigns.

However, the need for an anti-Covid-19 vaccination booster campaign in the fall to extend the duration of protection or improve protection against certain variants must be considered. In this context, the HAS recommends, to avoid any delay in influenza vaccination and simplify the vaccination course, to propose the concomitant administration of vaccines against Covid-19 and against seasonal influenza as soon as a person is eligible for both. vaccinations. The HAS also recommends that studies be set up very quickly to assess the immune response conferred during the concomitant administration of vaccines against seasonal influenza and against Covid-19.

It recommends, for people identified as possible contacts of a case of Covid-19, and eligible for influenza vaccination, that their vaccination be postponed until the end of the 10-day isolation period recommended in the absence of onset of symptoms.

This notice is subject to change depending on the evolution of the Covid-19 epidemic situation, in particular when the seasonal flu vaccination campaign is launched.