5:45 p.m., July 14, 2022
Facts. Faced with the increase in cases, the government has expanded vaccination against monkey pox
to ” most exposed groups “since the beginning of the week after a notice of the High Authority for Health
(HAS) in this sense. This concerns in particular homosexual people, multi-partner trans people, people in a situation of prostitution and professionals in places of sexual consumption. Moreover, as since the beginning of the introduction of vaccination, people case contacts at risk can also get vaccinated, just like the health professionals exposed to the risk without individual protection measures “. However, for several days, criticism has been increasing against the health authorities. In question ? The difficulties encountered in obtaining an appointment at the vaccination centers referenced online.
Read also – Monkey pox: the High Authority for Health recommends vaccination for homosexuals
Deadlines for making appointments. Since the launch of preventive vaccination, testimonials have multiplied on social networks about the impossibility of finding available slots for vaccination on Doctolib. “ On July 12, here is what you could find on Doctolib to make an appointment for ‘vaccination against monkeypox’ in the 8 points of the APHP in Paris. Unacceptable situation which shows the inability of the Ministry of Health to organize a vaccination campaign worthy of the name “, denounced on Twitter the association Act Up-Paris, Tuesday.
« We have also seen many testimonials in recent days reporting the difficulty of finding information and vaccination slots. We remind you that it is urgent to vaccinate the most exposed people (LGBTQI+ and TDS) without delay. “, she clarified. Also on Twitter, 190, one of the most important sexual health centers in the capital, indicated on Monday that it did not have “de doses of the famous vaccine ” for the moment. On his side, ARS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
states on its website that: for logistical reasons, no center will be able to carry out preventive vaccinations before July 18 ».
Acceleration of vaccination. Faced with criticism of the slow start of the vaccination process, the Directorate General for Health (DGS) acknowledged in a press release on Tuesday that “ delays in making an appointment and injecting may be observed during the first days of the campaign ”, in the face of strong demand. “ The health authorities confirm that all persons concerned by the HAS indications can be vaccinated “, she however assured.
« You have to have the arms to vaccinate, the organizations, it requires people, human resources (…) We are trying to increase the load collectively to be able to have a vaccination offer that is satisfactory “, underlined for his part, Doctor Clément Lazarus, of the General Directorate of Health, during a hearing on monkey pox before the Senate Social Affairs Committee on Wednesday. ” The first slots are open, others will follow, we will quickly reach cruising speed “, he added.
Read also – Monkey pox: “There is a completely new autochthonous circulation of the disease”
5,000 doses planned. Doses of monkeypox vaccines have started arriving at 70 vaccination centers, with a ramp-up in the coming days, according to health authorities on Wednesday. In detail, 7,500 doses of the national stock of smallpox vaccines have already been destocked. “ 5,000 doses are already planned for next week and the following week, and we will continue like this according to the needs of the regional health agencies that have been reported to us (…) as the vaccination centers open “, said Clément Lazarus, of the General Directorate of Health. In addition, additional orders from the Danish laboratory Bavarian Nordic have been placed, and others are under consideration.
Opening of vaccination centers. While some vaccination centers are already “ active for several days », for example in Ile-de-France, « other centers will open, from this week and in the weeks to come, to cover the entire metropolitan and overseas territory “, assured Public Health France, Tuesday. In addition, the authorities have launched a listening device to answer questions raised by monkeypox. The toll-free number Monkeypox Info service » (0801 90 80 69) is accessible from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and 7 days a week to inform the public about the epidemic and vaccination.
Read also – Monkey pox: new vaccination centers open in Paris and Ile-de-France
912 cases in France. According to Public Health France
, 912 cases of monkey pox have been confirmed as of July 12 in France, mainly affecting adult men, the vast majority of whom are in Ile-de-France. The region currently has 569 cases.