Published on
Updated
Reading 1 min.
Faced with the resurgence of cases of meningitis in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, the Regional Health Agency is launching a preventive vaccination campaign. Several municipalities are affected.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges that can be overwhelming. In eastern Lyon, 17 cases have been identified since 2021. To protect the youngest – the first to be affected by meningitis – the Regional Health Authority (ARS) has decided to launch a vast vaccination campaign.
Meningitis: children and adolescents are the most affected
In recent months, nearly 17 young people have been infected with a variant of type B meningitis in the region. A resurgence of cases of meningitis, which has greatly worried the health authorities.
“The people concerned were mostly between the ages of 16 and 21 and frequented the Chambéry sector and an area of eastern Lyon.“, specifies the ARS.
In this context, the agency decided to send more than 5,000 letters to 16-24 year olds in the region to encourage them to get vaccinated.
In total, about twenty municipalities are concerned by this campaign: Chapareillan, Entre-Deux-Guiers, Anoisins-Chatelans, Anthon, Charette, Charvieu-Chavagneux, Chavanoz, Hières-sur-Amby, Janneyrias…
Individual messages were also sent for the same purpose.
As for children, they are not spared either: toddlers aged 0 to 2 years, likely to contract this variant, are also invited to receive an injection.
Doctors and mayors mobilized
Faced with this vast preventive vaccination campaign, doctors and mayors have a role to play.
The ARS asked them to inform people about the risks associated with meningitis and the key role of the vaccine in preventing them.
The Regional Health Authority specifies, in this regard, that “as part of this campaign, the vaccine is subject to 100% reimbursement when purchased in pharmacies“.
A toll-free number has been set up to answer questions: 0 800 100 378 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).