Novavax's Covid-19 vaccine, presented as an alternative for those feared by messenger RNA vaccines, has been used for less than 10,000 injections so far, "
results a little below expectations
", indicated Thursday 7 April the Ministry of Health.
Read alsoCovid-19: why Novavax could convince those who are hesitant about vaccination
Health authorities hoped that this vaccine from the American laboratory, the fifth available in France, would convince people who were reluctant to be vaccinated with messenger RNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, based on previously unpublished technology.
“
The results are a little below expectations: 9,700 injections with this vaccine have been recorded
,” the ministry said during a press briefing on the vaccination campaign in France.
The first injections took place at the beginning of March.
These are "
mostly first doses: 6195
", according to the same source.
As hypotheses on the lack of appetite for this vaccine in France, the ministry notes that it "
arrived a little late
" and that it is "
usable only for the primary vaccination, it is not possible as a booster
" .
.
“
The results are a little below what we hoped for, but the story is not over.
It is possible that the scientific recommendations will evolve and lead to it also being used as an abseiling, which could give it a little boost
,” added the same source.
France has so far received 2.6 million doses of Novavax out of 6.4 million doses expected this year, according to figures sent to AFP by the ministry on Wednesday.
Read alsoCovid-19: the first deliveries of the Novavax vaccine scheduled for the weekend
Sold under the name Nuvaxovid, the vaccine from the American laboratory contains a component of the virus (but not the whole virus as with more conventional vaccines) introduced into the body in order to trigger an immune response.
This technique is used for vaccines against whooping cough, meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B. The Haute Autorité de Santé continues to believe that mRNA vaccines should be "
favoured
" for the first injections as well as for the booster, in because of their higher efficiency.
Currently, there are still around 4 million people aged 12 and over who have not received a single dose of anti-Covid vaccine in France.
