During the first vaccination campaign against Covid-19, the queues in the streets were long and the Doctolib platform was overwhelmed by the influx of appointment requests. Two years later, the situation is quite different.
Launched on October 3, the new vaccination campaign with so-called “bivalent” vaccines, capable of targeting both the original strain of the virus and close Omicron variants, is patina. Less than 10% of those over 80 years of age, the most vulnerable to the virus, received this additional booster dose and 3% of those over 12 years of age.
“We have a very significant margin for improvement,” acknowledges the Ministry of Health in statements collected by the JDD.
Epidemic ninth wave
With the end of the year celebrations approaching, the machine seems stuck. “We have three weeks left for our fellow citizens to get vaccinated a week before Christmas and thus be protected for the end-of-year celebrations,” the ministry completes.
A particularly worrying situation in full epidemic recovery. With currently around 50,000 new cases per day on average in the territory, the calls from the health authorities for prevention and vaccination are intensifying. Brigitte Autran, president of the Committee for Monitoring and Anticipation of Health Risks (Covars) lamented this Sunday the “disappointing” level of vaccination in the country.
“The French are not vaccinated, or not vaccinated enough,” he said.
At issue: a form of “pandemic fatigue” among the population, defined as of 2020 by the WHO as “a demotivation to follow recommended protective behaviors that appears gradually over time”, and a feeling that Covid-19 is less dangerous, despite decreased immunity.
Lack of communication
However, this low vaccination rate is also explained by the difficulty of knowing who is eligible for this new booster dose. In fact, the campaign is aimed at residents of nursing homes, those over 60 years of age, immunosuppressed people or people with comorbidities, pregnant women and health professionals.
However, although many doctors advocate opening it to those who have not received a dose in the last six months, the additional booster dose is also open only to “people living in the environment or in regular contact with immunosuppressed or vulnerable people.” according to a circular of the DGS.
In addition, several experts point to the lack of communication from the authorities to encourage vaccination. By way of illustration, the opening of a new vaccine campaign did not give rise to a speech by Emmanuel Macron, unlike the previous ones.
In the UK, for example, all eligible people receive a personalized letter asking them to get vaccinated. According to the JDD, across the Channel, 89% of people over the age of 75 have received their fall booster dose.
Source: BFM TV
