0.10% of French people vaccinated, closure of centers for lack of doses, delays in delivery… Faced with all these concerns, and even though the AstraZeneca vaccine, the third authorized in Europe, is ultimately not recommended for people over 65 years, the president spoke, during a surprise intervention this Tuesday evening on TF 1 and promised a "vaccine against the Covid to all the French who wish it" by the end of the summer.
He also estimated that, "in early March", 80% of nursing home residents who want it will have been immunized, which corresponds to 500,000 people.
In the meantime, the first 400,000 doses of AstraZeneca should arrive from Sunday.
But the opinion of the High Authority for Health (HAS) could reshuffle the cards of the strategy.
Why this HAS opinion?
Quite simply because during clinical trials, carried out in several countries, the AstraZeneca vaccine has been little tested in people over 65, which has not made it possible to measure its effectiveness in this population.
"We lack data," says its president Dominique Le Guludec.
The High Authority therefore followed Germany but chose to go against the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Indeed, on January 29, she approved the use of this vaccine in 27 countries for anyone over 18 years of age.
On this subject, Dominique Le Guludec makes things clear: “I recall the respective roles.
The EMA gives a marketing authorization, it says yes or no, but the strategy is evaluated by the agencies in each country ”.
Who will have priority?
Seventeen million more people.
First, four million health professionals because they are on the front line and particularly exposed to Covid.
Then, the 50-64 year olds, or 13 million people, giving priority to those with co-morbidities.
As this vaccine is easier to handle, pharmacists and midwives will be able to administer it, in addition to nurses and doctors.
Unlike the Pfizer and Moderna, the AstraZeneca can be stored in conventional refrigerators where the first two must be stored in super-refrigerators, respectively at -70 and -20 degrees.
Then, the period is more flexible between the two doses, of the order of nine to twelve weeks.
Does this advice change strategy?
Yes, since the government has counted on the vaccination of the most vulnerable, residents of nursing homes and those over 75, more at risk of severe forms of Covid.
And the antidote of AstraZeneca was to accelerate the campaign in France and massively protect our elders.
But for Morgane Bomsel, virologist and researcher at CNRS at the Cochin Institute in Paris, the government's strategy is not really called into question, it will be twofold: "We will continue to vaccinate the elderly and in parallel, a second younger group will receive AstraZeneca injections ”.
Finally, this advice does things well, according to her: "Not only will it be easier, people will not have to choose between several vaccines, it will be offered to them according to their age and in addition, it is not a bad idea to immunize those who are most able to transmit the virus to frail people ”.
Will the vaccination of the elderly be delayed?
“Without doubt, fears the immunologist Jacqueline Marvel.
It's a bit of a shame that we can't give it to people over 65, she admits, while tempering her words.
At the same time, RNA vaccines are more effective so that is also the choice I would have made ”.
Indeed, the Pfizer and Moderna injections are 95% against 62 to 70%, according to studies, for AstraZeneca.
In addition, deliveries from Pfizer should be much larger: 5 million in February, 9 in March, more than 19 in April against 2.5, 5.8 and 10 for AstraZeneca, due to delivery delays, criticized by the European Union.
What to qualify fears.
This Tuesday, Emmanuel Macron also declared: “We are going to secure 2.3 billion vaccines in Europe.
We hope to do even more ”.
The Head of State also announced the opening of four production sites in France from the end of February without specifying the location.
Can the opinion change?
Yes.
Moreover, a study currently being conducted in the United States will provide answers on the effectiveness of this new vaccine in people over 65 years of age.
On the other hand, others are expected soon.
“The news is very good, enthuses Jacqueline Marvel.
The results of the phase 3 trials of Novavax and Janssen came out at the end of last week and their protection rates are very good.
The latter is particularly promising because it is done in one dose.
They should be on the market within a month, so there is no need to worry ”.
The High Authority for Health also recalled that the campaign would accelerate over the months.
