FRED TANNEAU / AFP
While Covid contaminations are on the rise again these days, the government is stepping up its updates on the public who will receive a new dose of coronavirus vaccine (illustrative photo taken in Garlan, in Finistère, in May 2021).
CORONAVIRUS – « A young person, without comorbidity, who regularly sees relatives in the target is eligible. “While the contaminations Covid-19 leave on the rise in these first days of December, a note of the Directorate General of Health published on November 21 is talking about her. And for good reason: while the authorities invite above all fragile people – and in particular those over 60 – to receive a new dose of vaccinethe public that can claim it is actually much larger.
This Thursday, December 1 on BFMTV, the government spokesperson and former Minister of Health Olivier Veran asked the elderly and sick French people to be vaccinated again with a booster dose. All before deploring that in full epidemic recovery, “ only 20% “of the French people concerned are” up to date » vaccinations. ” It takes you 5 minutes and it will protect you, it will limit the risk of complications and hospitalization “Added the government spokesperson, again regretting that the campaign for the second recall is still slipping.
Indicators up sharply
Because it must be said that the indicators are eloquent. This same Thursday, January 1, according to the data provided by Public Health Francethere were nearly 70,000 new Covid infections in France in 24 hours, up more than 35% compared to the previous week.
But for the time being, on November 30, only 60.2% of the population received a complete vaccination schedule (i.e. two doses) as well as a booster dose. At the opposite end of the spectrum, nearly 20% of French people have still not received the slightest anti-Covid dose.
Moreover, while the Omicron variant and its sub-variants now represent the vast majority of contaminations in the country, Public Health France still regretted, in his weekly point of the weekwhat ” only 7.2% of people aged 60-79 and 9.4% of people aged 80 and over “have” received a suitable reminder to Omicron. This led the Agency to conclude: In this context, a reinforcement of vaccination is essential, in particular with a bivalent vaccine booster (against the initial strain and the Omicron variant). That is to say in France the new Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
A large part of the population is eligible for a booster
The opportunity to return to the note of the DGS. Because faced with this epidemic resumption which coincides with the drop in temperatures, the decline in barrier gestures and the imminent arrival of the end-of-year celebrations and therefore of large family gatherings, it is important to note that very many French people can actually get vaccinated. And this since October 3 and the launch of the latest campaign, with vaccines specifically designed to fight Omicron.
As the document signed by Professor Jérôme Salomon, head of the DGS, and Bernard Celli, who directs the task force dedicated to vaccination, many population categories are eligible to receive a second booster dose. Are concerned: residents of nursing homes and long-term care units of all ages, French people aged 60 and over, immunocompromised people, pregnant women, people suffering from comorbidities, health professionals and ” people living in the entourage or in regular contact with immunocompromised or vulnerable people “. With an essential clarification from the Ministry of Health: “ If someone presents without being part of the target, it is up to the healthcare professional to assess whether or not to vaccinate them. »
Clearly, as Christmas and New Year’s Day approach, a large part of the population who could be brought into contact with elderly and/or vulnerable people on a long-term basis has the possibility of requesting a first, second or even third dose. reminder. All you have to do is respect the deadlines in force. Namely three months since the last virus infection or the last injection for people over 80, and six months for all others since the last injection or three months since a Covid infection.
Finally, it should be noted that for French people who would like to optimize their level of protection before the holidays, do not delay in making an appointment at a pharmacy, with a city doctor or at a vaccination centre. Because the peak of protection occurs about ten days after receiving the dose. To be protected at Christmas, the race against time is on.
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