"
My wife and I are looking to catch the covid to have a certificate of recovery
." On social networks, Maxime * does not hide it: he wants to catch the Covid to "
have access to a health pass, via a certificate of recovery, without having to wait weeks for a double dose and do tests every day
“, He explains to
Figaro
. At 25, he does not feel threatened by the Covid, which he already had a year ago, without developing many symptoms. On the other hand, he "
hates making appointments, having to wait my turn for something that is absolutely useless to me
". So he never "
puts on his mask
" and "
washes his hands less
"And looks for a"
Covid plan
".
Read also: Covid-19: diving into the world of vaccination fraud
Many young people under the age of 30 have declared in recent days that they prefer to catch the Covid than to be vaccinated, because having the Covid allows to benefit at least 11 days after the infection of a certificate of recovery, valid for six months and acting as a health pass. In good health, they consider the risk of developing a rare severe form low. “
Honestly, if a friend tells me she has the Covid and I know I can isolate myself for several weeks on my own afterwards, I might go see her and have her cough on me. Having a health pass is very important because without it, we can no longer enjoy the pleasures of life,
”explains Clémence *, a 20-year-old philosophy student.
Behavior that does not really surprise Jérémy Ward, a sociologist at Inserm and whose work mainly focuses on vaccine controversies. "
Since the start of the epidemic, vaccination intentions have been lower among 20-30 year olds than in the rest of the population,
" he analyzes, while stressing that these statements must be measured: "
rather than 'intentional contamination, these people may not pay particular attention, have fun and tell themselves that if they catch it, at least they are quiet for six months
. Faïza Bossy, general practitioner in Paris, sees in it “
a very strong desire to return to a normal life as quickly as possible.
".
An official at the vaccination center of the town hall of the 8th arrondissement of Paris, she says she has been confronted with patients claiming a single injection, saying they have had Covid-19 without having a PCR test or a positive serology.
Reluctant to vaccination
"
If I had the Covid, I would not have to be vaccinated and therefore to follow all these protocols, I could live without constraint and be less vigilant in relation to the disease
", indicates Jonathan, 23 years old who does not "
wish not catch the Covid
"but still prefers to have it than" to
lose his freedoms
"by going to be vaccinated. Jennifer, 24, is also not trying to absolutely catch it but "
would rather have it and quarantine me and have my immune system know how to beat the disease naturally."
".
Cerise, 19, an educational assistant in a nursing home for people with disabilities, also declares that she prefers to catch the Covid than to be vaccinated.
And what about the risk of developing a severe or long form of the disease?
“
My body will be able to try to heal itself, just like with any other virus.
I'm not the type to be afraid of "natural" things, on the other hand, I'm afraid of the vaccine, because it is not natural
", she replies, while arguing that her antibodies"
work very well.
" at his age.
Read also: Coronavirus, what you need to know this week: overcome reluctance, vaccinate the undecided
"
It is a way of understanding risk based on an intuitive or impulsive approach
", analyzes Jocelyn Raude, teacher-researcher in the psychology of health and infectious diseases. “
For twenty years, we have observed in developed countries a heuristic of naturalness: the artificial is dangerous and toxic, the natural is healthy and protective,
he continues.
The idea that we are being injected with substances has become anxious for some of the French.
"
This anxiety about the vaccine is reflected in the testimonies.
"
I prefer to catch the Covid because I know what I risk, unlike the effects of the vaccine on the long term
", justifies Camille, 27 years old.
"
I am still young, I have no children and nothing tells me that in 15 years I will not be informed that I have problems or that my children have problems and that it is linked to vaccine,
”Judge Alexandra, a 25-year-old corporate lawyer, for whom catching the Covid“ would
fix it well
”.
A risk of developing a serious form not excluded
"
It is less problematic from an ethical point of view that people get infected in order to benefit from the pass rather than having false certificates made,"
said Jérémy Ward.
But from a public health point of view, it is catastrophic. That means a lot of people infected, some of them at risk for serious forms, and a potential to transmit the disease. So it is a particularly irresponsible act
”.
For Dr Faïza Bossy, this is a “
false alternative
”, the certificate being valid only for a maximum of six months. “
It just pushes the problem away,
” she observes. In addition to the increased risk of variants developing, the doctor also recalls that even if the risks of developing a serious form are less present in young people, "
we have seen young subjects having long Covid and severe forms
". “
The virus is nothing more than an indicator of a health condition that was hidden. There are people who appear well on paper but where the virus reveals an unknown pathology, such as bleeding disorders. And we are not immune to a new variant that would be contagious and dangerous tomorrow
», She explains.
Also read: How the Mandatory Vaccination Debate Thrives
Aspirants for the Certificate of Recovery from Covid-19 do not think about getting vaccinated, even if their quest for the virus fails.
The hope that the health pass will not be in place for long is also present.
Alexandra has already unsubscribed from her gym, failing to benefit from a health pass.
“
Everything can still change.
A month ago, it was out of the question for the health pass to be compulsory to access certain places, so perhaps in a month it will be removed,
”she hopes.
* Some first names have been changed.
