In several countries, including France, vaccination campaigns, focused on the most vulnerable, are planned for this fall, coupled with those against the flu. Faced with the Eris variant, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on all countries on August 9 to “intensify efforts to increase vaccination coverage”, especially for people at risk. We take stock of what is planned in France.
Coming out of the majority of minds after more than three years of pandemic and several waves, the SARS-CoV-2 virus was recently remembered by some French people, in particular with the appearance of the Eris variant. For the week of July 31 to August 6, Public Health France reported a 24.6% increase in the number of emergency room visits for symptoms suggestive of Covid-19, i.e. 216 additional visits compared to the previous week. If traffic remains low, the Government has called for caution.
The European Moderna and the Americans Pfizer/bioNTech and Novavax are also preparing vaccines designed to specifically target the Eris variant. According to the Reuters agency, it should be distributed from the end of September.
The French affected by this new campaign are all people at risk. This includes “people with certain comorbidities”, such as diabetes or obesity, “regardless of their age, people aged 65 and over, as well as pregnant women”, according to the Haute Autorité de Santé. Those around them are also called upon to be vaccinated.
With or without an Eris variant, the HAS had already recommended on February 23 to plan a vaccination campaign against Covid-19 in the fall. The organization also requested that it be coupled with the seasonal flu vaccination campaign. She pointed out that the organization would be easier and the echo greater. A request heard by the Government since the vaccination campaign will begin on September 6 in Mayotte and on October 17 in mainland France, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyana, according to an official bulletin from the Ministry of Health published on July 19.
Since August 9, two decrees now authorize pharmacists to prescribe and administer all vaccines, including the one against Covid-19, for all people over the age of 11, provided they follow compulsory theoretical training. at least ten hours. Other trades are concerned: medical biology laboratory workers, nurses and midwives.
