A few weeks after the opening of the fall vaccination campaigns, the manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer/bioNTech are working on new vaccines against Covid-19. A formula change that could help cope with the current epidemic recovery. For a few weeks now, the health authorities have indeed confirmed a rebound in the circulation of the virus on French territory.
According to data from Public Health France, in the first week of August there were 920 emergency visits for suspected Covid-19. A figure 31% higher than the previous week. SOS Médecins also notes in its latest bulletin an 84% increase in events linked to the virus at the beginning of August compared to the end of July.
However, this resumption would be explained in particular by the appearance of the sub-variant of Omicron EG.5, also called Eris. On August 9, the World Health Organization (WHO) added it to the list of variants to track. And the new mutation of the virus circulates far beyond the French borders. According to the magazine Forbes, Eris accounted for more than 15% of cases in the UK and more than 20% in Ireland at the end of July. On August 11, it accounted for 17.3% of covid-19 cases, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), compared with just 7.5% at the beginning. of July.
Vaccines for the end of September on the other side of the Atlantic?
A trend that has led pharmaceutical groups to adapt, as they did last year after the appearance of new variants. The European Moderna and the Americans Pfizer/bioNTech and Novavax thus prepare vaccines designed to specifically target the Eris variant, as revealed Reuters. However, before being administered, they will first have to obtain the green light from the health authorities. In September 2022, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) had authorized the administration of the adapted bivalent vaccine targeting the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. and before that, another serum that specifically protects against Omicron’s BA.1 subvariant.
CDC Director Mandy Cohen said in a podcast last week that she expects this new version to be administered in the United States during the “third or fourth week of September,” as broadcast by Reuters. Provided, of course, the vaccines are ready by then. On the other hand, it is not known if his administration is planned in France this fall.
As a reminder, according to a circular published on July 19 by the General Directorate of Health (DGS), the vaccination campaign will be launched, in France, on October 17 in mainland France, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyana. On the other hand, it will start from September 6 in Mayotte. Regarding the target audience, the High Health Authority (HAS) maintains its February recommendations. Advises people at least 6 months old who are immunocompromised and with comorbidities, as well as pregnant women and people over 65 years of age to receive a new dose in the fall to protect themselves from the virus.
Despite the preparation of these new Covid vaccines, the Pfizer and Moderna groups expect to see their sales fall again. While they sold more than $56 billion worth of doses in 2022, analysts expect half as much this year. Given these forecasts, the American Pfizer has indicated that it could be forced to cut jobs, reports Reuters.
Source: BFM TV
