Covid-19: vaccination open Monday to all over 55s, announces Olivier Véran

Vaccination against Covid-19 will be open from Monday to all French people aged 55 or over, announced the Minister of Health Olivier Véran in the Journal du dimanche.

He explained that it would be possible thanks to two vaccines, that of AstraZeneca that "from tomorrow [Monday], all French people over 55, without conditions, will be able to receive", and that of Johnson & Johnson, delivered in France as of Monday, proposed, "for consistency and concern for efficiency, to all over 55, without conditions".

Since March 19, France has reserved the vaccine from the Anglo-Swedish laboratory AstraZeneca for over 55s, after rare but serious cases of coagulation disorders observed only in younger patients.

READ ALSO>

Covid-19: four vaccines tested

The vaccine manufactured by Janssen-Cilag (Johnson & Johnson group) has been authorized by France since March 12.

The minister indicated that the first delivery would be "200,000 doses", "a week in advance".

“We are expanding vaccination,” said Olivier Véran.

Spacing of the two doses of messenger RNA vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Citing the other two vaccines authorized in France, the minister recalled "the announcement of the extension of the vaccination campaign by Pfizer and Moderna to all over 60 years from April 16".

The vaccination campaign against Covid-19 first targeted the most fragile people, aged over 75 or affected by comorbid factors (other health problems increasing the risk of death).

VIDEO.

Long-awaited new Johnson & Johnson vaccine arrives in France

Due to the slow pace of supply, it got off the ground much less quickly than the government would have liked.

The vaccination coverage rate with two doses is approaching 75% among nursing home residents, but only reaches 35% among 75-79 year-olds in the city, 9% among 70-74 year-olds, 4% among 65-69 year-olds.

The Minister also announced “the spacing of the two doses of messenger RNA vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna”.

“As of April 14, for all the first injections, we will offer a booster at 42 days instead of the current 28.

It will allow us to vaccinate faster without seeing a reduction in protection, ”he explained.