Brigitte Autran, president of the Health Risk Monitoring and Anticipation Committee (Covars) lamented on Sunday the “disappointing” level of vaccination against Covid-19, and also called for “strengthening the use of masks, as well as fence gestures.”
“It is really sad that the French do not get vaccinated, or do not get vaccinated enough,” lamented the president of Covars in an interview with the Sunday newspaper (JDD).
“We have the same problem with the flu: there is a lower level of vaccination this year, compared to previous years. The French really need to protect themselves,” the scientist urged.
“Go towards the use of a mask as much as possible in closed places”
According to the health authorities, last Monday, 2 million people had received a booster vaccine against Covid-19 since the launch of the booster campaign on October 3 with bivalent vaccines. Among them, 1.8 million people had been injected with such vaccines, which target the parent strain and the Omicron strain of Covid.
Given the outbreak of Covid-19 cases, “we ask to reinforce the use of masks, as well as barrier gestures and vaccination,” Brigitte Autran pleaded while Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne launched a “solemn appeal” this week to wear a mask in closed places, particularly public transport.
“The return of the mandatory mask is a political decision and it is not up to us to decide. But we must move towards the use of a mask as much as possible in closed places, where there is significant promiscuity, ”he added.
“Caregivers must be vaccinated”
The president of Covars also indicated that the body that replaced the scientific council will give “a complete opinion” on the situation of the epidemic at the end of the week or the beginning of the following. Finally, on the controversial issue of reintegration of unvaccinated caregivers, the Covars stand firm in their position.
“It is also a political decision, but we believe that caregivers should be vaccinated. It is a matter of responsibility. The responsibility of the caregiver in front of their patients is to protect them and protect themselves,” said Brigitte Autran.
Source: BFM TV
