Are we on our way again soon?
As summer enters its last quarter, the shadow of the Covid-19 returns.
After two months of calm, “
the Covid epidemic is not behind us
”, alert in the columns of Le
Parisien
, Brigitte Autran, president of the Committee for monitoring and anticipating all health risks (CVARS).
“
It is almost certain that there will be a wave in the fall
”, continues the HIV specialist, at the head since this Wednesday August 17 of the replacement of the Scientific Council, dissolved on July 31 at the same time as the end of the state of health emergency.
A new wave with great unknowns
If today, 22,000 daily contaminations are recorded on average, the health authorities fear a new outbreak once the temperatures drop.
“We have to move towards 'living with',
adds Brigitte Autran.
This does not mean accepting the dead or the seriousness of the disease.
On the contrary."
The former immunologist wants to “
activate the last levers
” to limit the number of people who are not vaccinated or not revaccinated (without the booster dose).
"The Committee will act and advise the government in this direction, to expand access to vaccines and effective drugs to prevent serious forms, such as Paxlovid."
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What do we know about the next wave?
Not much.
"
No one knows whether or not the future wave will be related to Omicron
," she notes, welcoming Moderna's new vaccine targeting the virus' latest mutation.
This new serum is
“very good news, because it is bivalent, that is to say that it targets both the original strain of the virus – called Wuhan – and Omicron”.
For the president who is about to whisper in the ear of the new Minister of Health, recently installed:
“the main thing is to continue to advance on these vaccines which are extremely important without ever derogating from their safety”.
"
One Step Ahead
"
Finally, Brigitte Autran wants to “
be one step ahead
” of the next health crises.
On the agenda:
"the immediate establishment of a task force of scientific expertise"
, "
the implementation of rapid recommendations
" and finally, "
a so-called ''global health'' approach"
, i.e. a global vision on the health of the French which "
is not isolated from that of the rest of the world
".
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In the wake of Covid, but also Zika, Ebola and Nipah, health authorities fear a multiplication of health crises.
“Those of tomorrow will not be those of yesterday or today
”
,
concludes the president of the Committee, who fears that the recent fires modify “
the animal and plant ecology of entire territories
”.
According to her,
“imbalances benefit viruses and bacteria”.
“
The main thing is to be reactive,”
she sums up.
