We will still have to wait several months.
The vaccine against bronchiolitis for seniors should be reimbursed “in the fall”, announced the Minister of Labor, Health and Solidarity Catherine Vautrin, guest this Thursday on France Bleu Mayenne.
The Arexvy serum can already be prescribed in France since summer 2023, but it is not yet covered by Health Insurance.
“The drug already has its marketing authorization”, but “to be reimbursed, the therapeutic effectiveness must be validated by the High Authority of Health, there are a certain number of steps”, he said. -she reminded.
The High Authority of Health will issue its opinion "this summer" on the GSK vaccine against the bronchiolitis virus in seniors and "logically, from the fall, we will be able to have it available", says the Minister of Labor and Health Catherine Vautrin on @bleumayenne @CaVautrin pic.twitter.com/aNoiKkCbuP
— France Bleu Mayenne (@bleumayenne) February 22, 2024
“She will provide her information in the summer.
This means that logically, from the fall, we will be able to have this medicine,” said the minister, before insisting on the necessity of this vaccination.
“This is an extremely important element, (…) we are going to save lives”, she underlined, also estimating that “these are as many people who, vaccinated, will perhaps not have recourse to antibiotics”.
“Very common, very contagious infections”
This vaccine should in fact help protect seniors against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a pathology less known than influenza viruses but which causes just as many hospitalizations and deaths each winter.
“This new vaccine will effectively protect people aged 60 and over by fighting against respiratory diseases.
What is very important is that these infections are very common in winter and what's more, they are very contagious,” said the Minister of Health.
Arexvy serum, from the British laboratory GSK, will be produced in the GSK factory in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, in the North.
It arrived on the European market in June 2023, after receiving authorization from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
According to a study on which this authorization was based, “the vaccine had a significant effectiveness of 83% on infections and 94% on severe forms of pneumonia, with excellent tolerance”, underlined several doctors in a published article. in our columns last September, calling for “making RSV vaccination available” as quickly as possible.
Also read “Avoid deaths this winter”: why doctors are calling for anti-RSV vaccines for the elderly
“Unfortunately it is not covered by Health Insurance, even for fragile, elderly, respiratory insufficient, or immunocompromised patients.
The very people who risk dying if they develop a serious form of RSV infection,” the signatories lamented, recalling that “with a cost of more than 200 euros, only the most fortunate will have access to it.” They want it.”
The competitor to this vaccine, Abrysvo produced by the Pfizer laboratory, was authorized at the end of August.