France is preparing for a new stage in the fight against the coronavirus: vaccination.
The stakes are enormous, in a country which is distinguished in Europe by a strong reluctance and a strong mistrust of its population vis-à-vis vaccines.
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In a process of membership and transparency, Prime Minister Jean Castex, assisted by Minister of Health Olivier Véran, unveiled the outlines of a campaign which could begin at the beginning of January.
"Mr. vaccines" has a name
It was one of the most anticipated announcements of this press conference.
Jean Castex unveiled this Thursday evening the identity of the person in charge of the French vaccination strategy.
"An orientation council for the vaccine strategy will be created, responsible for supporting the Government in the choices it will have to make in this area," announced the Prime Minister.
This council will include representatives of the various stakeholders that the government intends to involve in the implementation of this vaccine policy: scientific experts, including human and social sciences, health professionals, representatives of local communities, health associations. patients and citizens themselves through the dialogue framework set up by the EESC.
"
The choice fell on Alain Fischer.
This immunologist, professor emeritus at the Collège de France, is a doctor at the APHP and member of the Anti-Covid-19 Vaccine Committee.
The vaccine will be free
By announcing his deconfinement plan on November 24, Emmanuel Macron had specified that vaccination would not be made compulsory, which politicians such as Yannick Jadot demanded.
"It is the choice of confidence but we must be as many as possible to be vaccinated," said Thursday Jean Castex.
On the other hand, the vaccination will be free for all, reassures the head of government, specifying that the government has blocked 1.5 billion euros for the campaign.
In an attempt to reassure the population, the Prime Minister made it clear that "vaccinated people will be monitored by a device reinforced by a pharmacovigilance device".
With one objective: "Everyone must be able to be vaccinated by a health professional near their home", whom "he knows and in whom he trusts".
200 million doses ordered
Jean Castex confirmed on Thursday that France has ordered 200 million doses of vaccine through the European call for tenders.
This order should enable all French people to be vaccinated, while reserving an additional margin.
The head of government recalls that some vaccines require two injections in the space of a few weeks.
Ultimately, these orders must obviously make it possible to vaccinate the entire population.
“Transporting millions of vaccines, some with very specific characteristics, is an operation of great complexity,” explains Jean Castex.
We will be ready for the first vaccinations as soon as the first vaccines are effective.
"
Three vaccines targeted initially
For his first speech under his new cap.
Alain Fischer returned to the three vaccines concerned by the campaign.
Starting with the two RNA vaccines developed by the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna laboratories, which are more than 90% effective and protect against severe forms of the disease without any complications having been identified to date.
The difficulty already identified for launching the campaign is logistical.
These vaccines indeed need to be stored at a very low temperature, below 70 degrees.
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The third vaccine, developed by Astrazeneca and based on another technology, will probably not be used initially.
Alain Fischer specified that it will be necessary to carry out other evaluations before making a decision.
Start of vaccinations in a few weeks
It has already been noted that the vaccination campaign will not initially be open to all French people.
And the first injections should start very soon.
On several occasions, Emmanuel Macron has expressed his desire to see the campaign start at the end of December or the beginning of January.
The calendar is maintained but "the dates can be brought to move", specifies all the same the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran.
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"We will be able to start the vaccination campaign about a year after the onset of the virus," said Jean Castex.
The Prime Minister sees this as the fruit of an “unprecedented” scientific effort, noting that several vaccines are already promising.
Before December 29, the European Medicines Agency must approve two vaccines.
The French authorities will also have to give their agreement.
The start of the vaccination campaign is "a matter of weeks", underlines the Prime Minister.
The government is banking on a launch for early January.
Three stages of vaccination
"The choice of who should be vaccinated first will not depend on the government," said Jean Castex.
The role of the State is that priority groups can access the vaccine in conditions of security and transparency ”.
The initial objective is not to protect the people most likely to spread the virus but to protect those considered to be exposed or at risk.
This explains why residents of nursing homes and their caregivers will be vaccinated in the first place, as recommended by the High Council for Public Health.
“It is a public health imperative,” explains Jean Castex.
This phase 1 will begin in January, to last until February.
The families of residents will be consulted, especially in the event that the elderly are not able to give their consent.
It will affect a million people.
These people should receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
For a second phase, all nursing staff as well as the elderly and those deemed to be at risk, for example presenting comorbidities, will follow.
This phase will extend until spring.
Priority people will be offered a medical consultation, for information purposes and to obtain authorization.
The third phase, which will extend to other populations, will follow immediately.
This vaccination strategy will be presented to Parliament.
French families for the holidays
Before coming to vaccines, the Prime Minister thanked the French for having respected the rules of containment and restrictive measures.
"France is today the country in Europe where the drop in epidemic pressure has been the strongest and the fastest," he says, confirming that places of worship will again be able to host ceremonies according to a new health protocol, namely the rule of one seat in three and one row in two.
The Prime Minister confirmed the easing of the restriction measures for mid-December.
It will therefore be possible to spend the end of year celebrations with family or friends.
The Prime Minister advises the French not to meet with more than six adults, children not falling within this limit.
