“If people find themselves there, hats off!
".
Epidemiologist Antoine Flahault sometimes has trouble following the organization of the booster vaccination against Covid-19 this fall in France, far from being the subject of major communication campaigns.
The official launch takes place this Monday, October 3, with the first injections of the new vaccines adapted to the Omicron variant (BA.1 or BA.5).
We take stock of everything you need to know about this campaign (eligible groups, vaccines used, time required from the previous dose, etc.), as an 8th epidemic wave began at the end of August.
For who ?
In accordance with the recommendations of the High Authority for Health (HAS) in its opinion issued on September 19, the following categories are eligible for a new booster dose of vaccine:
People aged 60 or over
Residents of nursing homes and long-term care units (USLD)
immunocompromised people
Adults aged 18 and over and at risk of severe form (with comorbidities, pregnant women, etc.)
People living in the entourage of another person belonging to one of the categories listed above
Caregivers and other professionals in the health and medico-social sectors
Two other conditions are required: having received the last injection at least three months ago (for people aged at least 80, residents of nursing homes and USLDs and immunocompromised) or six months (for all others), and not having had Covid-19 less than three months ago.
People who don't fit into these categories but still want a new booster dose can talk to their doctor.
From when ?
In reality, all these people are already eligible for the administration of a new dose of vaccine (most often, a 2nd booster and therefore a 4th dose) since the beginning of the summer.
To date, just over 30% of people aged 60 and over have received two booster doses.
What changes this Monday is that new vaccines will be offered to them and will have to be used as a priority.
In addition, a vulnerable person who has already received two reminders is encouraged to receive a third this fall if they meet the eligibility criteria listed above.
With which vaccine?
As a first step, this Monday, October 3, healthcare professionals who last week ordered Moderna vaccines based on the original strain of the virus and on the Omicron BA.1 variant will be able to administer it - provided they have already received the doses in question.
From Thursday, October 6, they will also be able to gradually receive vials of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine adapted to Omicron BA.5.
Either of these two new products can be used “indifferently”, indicates the HAS.
Except for those under 30, who have had to avoid Moderna for a year due to potentially greater heart risks.
The expected efficacy of these bivalent vaccines “is at best superior (and at least equivalent) to that of the original vaccines”, but no data yet allow us to be precise.
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Initially, stocks will be limited.
But "by the end of October, several million doses of suitable vaccines will be delivered by the laboratories", promises the Directorate General of Health (DGS).
In the event of a supply problem, the original Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines, which remain very effective against severe forms, can still be used.
Where ?
The vaccination campaign takes place mainly in town, that is to say in pharmacies and at the doctor's.
It is possible to make an appointment on the official website santé.fr, on Doctolib, or to go directly to your pharmacist or health professional to find out and set up a time slot.
What about the flu shot?
This one, organized every year, will take place from October 18th.
Co-vaccination against Covid-19 and against influenza will then be encouraged “for reasons of mobilization and logistics”, the eligible populations being very close, indicates the DGS.
Concretely, it is possible to administer one dose of each vaccine in each of the two arms.
If the two injections do not take place on the same day, there is no minimum time to respect between them, indicates the HAS.
