In February 2022, Jean-François Delfraissy, then president of the scientific Councilevoked “probably a new vaccination campaign in October”. While for many French people the third dose date of the beginning of the year 2022, will a new reminder soon be recommended for all French people? Will the fourth dose be open to a wider audience?
« I took my third dose in January 2022. I am 52 years old, should I take a fourth dose? »David asks. West France answers you.
Today, who is affected by the fourth dose?
After immunocompromised people and people over the age of 60, the second booster dose is extended to new audiences since July 20, 2022.
These are people who live with a vulnerable or immunocompromised person, pregnant women (from the 1st trimester of pregnancy) and people at risk of a severe form of Covid-19.
Since July 26, all health professionals as well as employees in the medico-social sector and firefighters are eligible for the second booster dose. once morest Covid-19.
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A vaccination campaign in the fall?
The possibility of a recall campaign vaccines once morest Covid-19 in the fall has been discussed for several months. This was accelerated by the seventh wave and many French people have already been able to benefit from this booster dose.
For the moment, opening the fourth dose to all French people is not on the agenda.
“Given the data available and the epidemic situation, the administration of a second booster dose to vulnerable people remains, at this stage, the recommended option, in accordance with the medium-term vaccination strategy presented during the summer. As with all HAS work, this recommendation is likely to change depending on the evolution of the epidemic and the data available.explains the High Authority for Health (HAS), which we interviewed.
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What regarding bivalent vaccines?
For several months, laboratories like Pfizer and Moderna have been working on vaccines « bivalents » . These vaccines consist of a booster dose targeting half the original strain of the virus and half the Omicron variant.
Current vaccines are not very effective once morest the Omicron variant, which is the majority in France. According to Santé Publique France, three to four months following complete vaccination, the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are only 19.8% and 27.4% effective once morest Omicron.
These vaccines might make it possible to slow down the epidemic resumption which might take place in the fall.
When will bivalent vaccines be available?
The new anti-Covid vaccine from the Pfizer-BioNTech laboratory “should be approved in the fall”said the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Wednesday, August 10.
In France, test phases are also underway. “For the moment our next work should focus on the evaluation of bivalent vaccines”declares to West France You have.
No precise date for placing bivalent vaccines on the market has yet been announced by the health authorities. However, the objective is for them to be used during the vaccination booster campaign, “which might be open to people under 60 from the fall”underlined the Scientific Council in a July 19 report.
In the UK, Moderna’s modified vaccine was approved on Monday, August 15.
