Phase 1 of vaccination against the coronavirus, undertaken by the French health authorities since December 27, will soon give way to a second phase, Prime Minister Jean Castex confirmed this Thursday evening, announcing that "more than 45,000 people were vaccinated for 5 days ”.
During a press conference, intended to detail new measures taken to stem the epidemic which persists, he announced that he wanted to "advance phase 2".
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"After nursing homes, health professionals and home helpers of more than 50 vaccinated since Monday, those over 75 will be able to be vaccinated as of January 18," assured the Prime Minister, specifying that this will be done " in vaccination centers ”, one of which has already opened per department (ie 100), before reaching the number of 300 on Monday and 600 at the end of January (ie six per department).
He also announced that vaccination was now open to people with disabilities residing in a specialized establishment, as well as their caregivers.
A "simplified" vaccination course
Two other phases will follow, added the Minister of Health Olivier Véran.
First of all, the openness to vaccination for those over 65, ie "7 million more people", then "the arrival of other vaccines that function differently, validated because they are considered safe and effective".
These, which do not require storage at - 80 ° C, "can be made in town directly with your caregivers".
The minister says he is not able to "fix a number of French people vaccinated before the summer", because that "depends on the validation of these vaccines".
He specifies that 78 million doses should be delivered before the summer, bringing together the five main vaccines.
The vaccination course should be "simplified", also argued Olivier Véran.
The next concerned, the 75 years or more, remain "free to go to consult a doctor", in order to ask him questions about the injection, but can also register directly by telephone by dialing a number which will be revealed soon. putting in contact with the nearest vaccination center or by making an appointment on the santé.fr site, which has an interactive map.
On site, a caregiver will ask them a few medical questions, before checking the patient's consent and giving him the injection.
After a short period of observation, the vaccinee can go home.
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Deferred doses
This course includes a small change: the principle allowing to postpone the second injection of Pfizer serum has been validated by the health authorities.
Thus, it can be done up to six weeks after the first instead of three now, which will allow more people to be vaccinated in the first place.
Olivier Véran detailed his objectives, concerning this vaccine which he claims to be "safe", with "rare side effects, often allergic on the order of one patient per 100,000 people".
On Wednesday, 12,500 people were vaccinated, "at least 25,000" this Thursday, before a "rise in power, reaching tens of thousands of people vaccinated, per day and 1 million by the end of January".
He also specified about the second messenger RNA vaccine, that of the Moderna laboratory, recently authorized for marketing, that some 50,000 doses will be delivered on Monday, then 500,000 in February, one million in March and April, then two million in May and June.
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The deployment of this vaccine strategy will be carried out in collaboration with the directors of regional health agencies (ARS), prefects and elected officials of agglomerations, detailed Jean Castex.
"With the maximum of health professionals, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, liberal or in hospital", he adds, including retirees who can be mobilized.
"The vaccine campaign raises legitimate expectations, questions which are just as much", conceded the Prime Minister who conceives that it started "more slowly than in other countries".
"We must save time and go faster", also hammered the head of government, denouncing "comments and sometimes outrageous criticism" about this slow start.
"Not everyone will be able to be vaccinated immediately," also insisted Jean Castex, who insists on a "clear objective": "to vaccinate as a priority the 15 million elderly people or those suffering from chronic pathologies" since these "first vaccines allow above all to develop a serious form of the disease ”, in order to“ protect them from health risks and protect our hospitals ”.