The possibility that a vaccine against Covid-19 could be available and administered to millions of people, primarily health professionals, must be prepared now, according to the Scientific Council.
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Numerous trials are in progress and although the use of a vaccine is subject to " scientific uncertainties and unknowns (efficacy, medium or long-term availability, type of vaccine, etc.), it is now crucial to develop a national vaccine strategy ”to integrate it effectively into the fight against the epidemic, as soon as it is available, according to the Council's opinion published on Friday, July 24.
The French government is negotiating (in partnership with its European counterparts) contracts for the reservation of vaccines, the characteristics of which are not yet known (efficacy against infection, transmission, number of injections, with or without a booster, etc.).
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" But we expect to have several tens of millions of vaccine doses (potentially corresponding to 2 to 5 different products) available between the last quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, which could be deployed if it a second wave of Covid-19 occurs ”. Experts consider it " imperative to give yourself the time necessary for a rigorous evaluation " of the efficacy and safety of candidate vaccines " before their large-scale use ".
6.8 million people at risk of occupational exposure
The government, depending on the nature of the vaccine (s) available, will have to determine " who to vaccinate and how ", emphasizes the opinion which recommends involving citizens in this preparatory process, so as not to repeat the failure of anti-vaccination. -flu from 2009. The Council rejects the idea of " compulsory vaccination ", advocating " organized " vaccination .
Once known, the characteristics of the vaccines will allow France to make the best choices according to the needs identified (in the form of a single dose more easily usable in medical practices, or in multidose vials, etc.). " Targeting priority populations is crucial, " according to this document.
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Among the priority populations in France (Overseas Territories included), there are around 6.8 million people at risk of occupational exposure with a “ very high priority ” for around 1.8 million of them, mainly healthcare professionals.
In this group, there are around 5 million “ high priority ” people exposed by their employment in contact with the population (traders, home helpers, teachers, bus drivers) or working in confined areas at risk (slaughterhouses, taxis / VTC, cruises, etc.) or with confined accommodation at risk (migrant workers, construction site, etc.).
People at risk because of their age or their state of health, or about 23 million people in France and those in great precariousness (about 250,000 people) constitute the other group of priority populations in the first place, according to the opinion. . The opinion comes from the reflection of a group made up of members of the Covid-19 Research Expertise (Care) Analysis Committee, the Covid-19 Vaccines Scientific Committee and the Covid-19 Scientific Council.