After the over 60s and the immunocompromised, who will be the next eligible for the second booster dose of the anti-Covid vaccine?
In the current state of available data, the High Authority for Health recommends this Wednesday morning "to anticipate the organization of a vaccination booster campaign for the fall of 2022 for the populations most at risk of serious forms of the disease ( in particular, immunocompromised people and their entourage, people aged 65 and over and/or with comorbidities at risk of a serious form).
Thus, any obese, diabetic, suffering from cancer or psychiatric disorders (in particular) would be affected by this additional bite.
The goal ?
"Reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with Covid-19" by giving a boost to the protection of the most fragile.
The HAS also recommends "considering the vaccination of health professionals in particular with regard to future data on vaccine efficacy against asymptomatic forms of the disease".
25,000 second reminders per day
The ball remains in the court of the government anyway, which can decide to follow - or not - the recommendations of the HAS.
Currently, approximately 25,000 people receive a second booster dose of vaccine (also known as the “fourth dose”) each day.
Nearly 20% of over 80s and nearly 7% of 60-79 year olds have already reached out again.
Invited this Wednesday morning from RTL, the new Minister of Health, Brigitte Bourguignon, admitted that the pace was quite low.
“It can be imagined, it is better, people think less about using the vaccine.
We must put this subject back on the table, and remember that in the fall we can have the epidemic returning or a small outbreak, ”she said.
#Covid19: "You will not hear me say that the pandemic is behind us, there is always this risk", estimates the Minister of Health and Prevention @BrigBourguignon in #RTLMatin.
"The worst is behind us, but a small outbreak is possible in the fall" pic.twitter.com/yc4mXms7yo
– RTL France (@RTLFrance) May 25, 2022
HAS will specify later which vaccines are recommended for each population category.
It also recalls that “many uncertainties persist about the evolution of the epidemic” and “could lead it to change its recommendations”.
In the pessimistic scenario, for example if a more severe or more transmissible variant emerges, the entire adult population could be encouraged to receive a second booster dose.
The Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants should prevail in the coming weeks, but "no increase in the severity of the infection caused by these sub-lines is expected" compared to BA.2, still predominant.
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By next fall, the HAS also recommends "to continue today the vaccination efforts of people at risk who have not been vaccinated or who have not yet received their first booster dose".
Clearly, the debates around the fourth dose of vaccine should not make us forget that around 7% of eligible inhabitants have not received any.