Health Minister Olivier Véran announced Tuesday, October 26 to AFP that he had received his third dose of the Covid vaccine, thus sending "
a signal
" to make an appointment for the millions of people eligible for the booster.
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Olivier Véran, who is also a neurologist, received an injection of Pfizer serum late Tuesday afternoon in a Paris hospital, after a first dose of AstraZeneca in February and then Moderna in early May.
"
I took the opportunity to do in the same movement and in the other arm the vaccination against influenza
", four days after launching the seasonal campaign in France, he said.
“
I protect myself, I protect the people with whom I am in contact.
And I send a signal by saying go ahead,
”insisted Olivier Véran.
"100,000 booster doses per day"
For the time being, and while the figures for the epidemic are starting to rise again very slightly, about 2.5 million people out of the 6.8 million who can claim it have had their vaccine booster, six months after their last injection. This particularly concerns people over 65 living at home, those with serious illnesses and co-morbidities, or residents in EHPADs and nursing staff.
"
But things are going up,
" observed Olivier Véran, pointing to the current rate of "
100,000 booster doses per day
" and the increase in appointments.
Thus, the over 65s are “
mostly
” vaccinated, he argued, ie 64% of those living at home, 63% of those living in EHPAD, long-term care unit or independent residence.
Among the most difficult to reach, those of all ages who have chosen to receive the Janssen vaccine as a single injection.
That is to say a million people, of which only 20% have so far requested a new dose.
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The government is still awaiting scientific recommendations concerning the integration of the booster into the health pass.
According to Olivier Véran, who asked the High Authority for Health on this point, the steering committee for the vaccine strategy and the scientific council, the opinions should reach "
in a few days
".