Vaccination against Covid-19: where are we after a month and a half of campaign?
Not one, but now two autumnal stings in the arm. In addition to flu vaccination, to which elderly people have been accustomed for several decades, that against Covid-19 could also be offered to them every year. The two injections can also be given at the same time, one in each arm. In addition to saving time, combining the two injections could further stimulate the immune system without increased side effects, according to a study delivered this fall (but which has not yet been reread by independent scientists).
The Covid vaccination campaign began on October 2, two weeks earlier than planned. The goal put forward by the government was to quickly protect the most vulnerable among us, because the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been circulating a lot since the summer. As of November 12, after almost a month and a half, 16.7% of people aged at least 65 had been vaccinated. The Minister of Health, Aurélien Rousseau, continues to rejoice in his television or radio interventions that the value reached last year at the same period has been exceeded. This share, however, remains much lower than in England, the European “champion”. Almost two thirds of over 65s are up to date with their vaccination and half were up to date after a month and a half (the campaign started a little earlier than in France).
Barely 5% of caregivers vaccinated this fall
In addition to seniors, children and adults with health problems, pregnant women and caregivers are also encouraged to “boost” their immune protection in France. We do not have data concerning them, except for health professionals. And they are far from rushing towards a new vaccine: only 6.6% of caregivers working in hospitals, 6.8% of those working in nursing homes and 5.4% of those working in nursing homes have been “pricked” since on October 2. As a reminder, since May, they no longer have to have received their first doses to work.
In the vast majority of cases, the vaccine used is that of Pfizer-BioNTech, targeting the Omicron XBB.1.5 variant. The latter is no longer the majority in France but those who have “replaced” it for the moment resemble it, because they have relatively few additional mutations. Vaccination effectiveness thus remains rather good, especially against serious forms. Sanofi’s serum, which is not based on messenger RNA technology, can also be administered to people who wish.
