A new dose of vaccine, but for whom? As the Covid-19 figures have risen again in recent days, the incidence rate now reaches 454 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, an increase of 38% in the space of a week according to the latest data from French Public Health. , vaccination The campaign against coronavirus continues.
On October 3, the health authorities launched a new withdrawal campaign with new “bivalent” vaccines, but with rather ill-defined contours. While frail people and people over 60 are still the target audience, this new injection is open to a much broader and younger audience.
Wider audience
In a circular from the Directorate-General for Health dated November 21 that BFMTV was able to consult, which is aimed at health professionals, it is indicated that “people who live in the environment or in regular contact with people” are also eligible. immunocompromised or vulnerable. There is no age criterion.
“Therefore, a young person, without comorbidity, who regularly sees relatives in the target is eligible,” we learn again. With BFMTV, Professor Daniel Floret, vice president of the HAS Technical Vaccination Commission, gives several concrete examples of potentially affected people.
“First the people who live under the same roof. If you have a child who is being treated for leukemia, who is immunocompromised, you should get vaccinated to protect him. Also people who have had repeated and prolonged contact with these people even if they do not. We live under the same roof,” she insists.
The only problem, despite the official document signed by the Director General of Health in person, Professor Jérôme Salomon, the health professionals themselves do not seem to be aware of these developments. With BFMTV, Frédéric Desmoulins, a pharmacist in Paris, admits his ignorance on this subject.
“We didn’t know that people under 60 were allowed to have a dose. Now we are aware, obviously we will do it for people at risk and who have a risk environment,” he says.
The authorities encourage
To date, the Ministry of Health reports, with BFMTV, that 1.8 million French people have received a dose of bivalent vaccine since October 3, a figure that rises to 2 million for booster injections in general. By age group, 9.4% of people aged 80 and over received some dose of bivalent vaccines, as did 7.2% of people aged 60 to 79.
According to the ministry, only 21% of people aged 80 and over and 37% of people aged 60 to 79 are today “sufficiently protected by vaccination or previous infection”.
For the moment, the ministry has not mentioned the reopening of vaccination centers, explaining that 95% of the French have a local offer, the campaign takes place mainly in the city. At the same time, 140,000 letters are being sent to immunocompromised people due to health insurance.
Invited to BFMTV on Thursday, government spokesman and former Health Minister Olivier Véran lamented that “only 20%” of French people who are sick or at risk are up to date with their vaccinations.
“I speak to the French: if you are 60 years of age or older, if you are a carrier of a disease or if you are in daily contact with frail or elderly people, get vaccinated against Covid if it is not your reminder,” he said. he said, remembering that “it takes you five minutes.”
The authorities also note that these boosters are available three months after the last injection for people over 80 and six months for others.
Source: BFM TV
