A fourth dose of anti-Covid vaccine is not justified at this stage, judges the Council for the Orientation of the Vaccine Strategy (COSV), which may however review its position if the scientific data evolve.
"
The available data do not currently call for the implementation of a second booster vaccine
(which, in fact, would most often be a fourth dose, editor's note)
, although the question is made legitimate by the current context of strong viral circulation
”, estimates this consultative body in an opinion dated January 19 and published on Wednesday January 26.
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The only exception is “
severely immunocompromised people, for whom the COSV has already recommended the systematic injection of a second booster dose
”.
For the others, the current data does not show a “
significant individual benefit
”.
In addition, "
the collective interest (...) appears just as limited in the short term
", since a second recall would currently only concern a "
target restricted to around 3 million people
".
In addition, a fourth immediate dose could have “
a counter-productive effect
”.
It "
could be interpreted as a signal of ineffectiveness of vaccination by public opinion and thus induce a risk of disengagement with regard to vaccination perceived as too frequent
", warns the COSV.
Seized on this issue by the government, this body chaired by Professor Alain Fischer may however “
change its position according to the publication of new scientific data
”.
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The COSV recommends in particular to “
maintain careful monitoring of the evolution of the curve of hospitalizations of people aged 80 or over who have received their first booster vaccine
”. "
If the slight increase in the number of hospitalizations, which began in December, were to continue over the next few weeks, the COSV could recommend the systematic administration of a second booster vaccine for these people
", he underlines, while adding that this is not the case for the moment.
Faced with the decline in protection against infection observed over time, France had decided to implement the vaccine booster in September for the oldest, before gradually extending it to all people aged 12 and over. .
A country at the forefront of the issue of recalls, Israel has been injecting a fourth dose into people over 60 since the beginning of January, and announced on Wednesday evening that it would extend it to people over 18 at risk.
