An expected decision
In view of the lack of data among people over 65, the opinion of the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) on the place of AstraZeneca’s product in the vaccination strategy is not surprising. An American study could however bring new elements “In a fortnight”, according to Dominique Le Guludec, president of the HAS.
Who in priority?
All health professionals, even young and without comorbidity (3 to 4 million people); and people aged 50 to 65 suffering from diseases exposing them to severe forms of the coronavirus (4 million people) will be given priority for the administration of this third vaccine.
A new sector
In addition to doctors and nurses, pharmacists and midwives will be able to inject the AstraZeneca product, which can be stored in the refrigerator. Main logistical limitation: presentation in vials of ten doses… and of course the number of doses.
Nine to twelve weeks
The HAS recommends nine to twelve weeks between the first and the second dose. “Vaccine efficacy increases significantly after the ninth week”, ensure the Pr Daniel Floret, vice-president of the technical committee on vaccinations.
What efficiency?
This vaccine with a non-replicating viral vector (a benign virus carries the genetic information of the vaccine into our cells) is less effective than RNA vaccines (60 to 70% against more than 90%). Efficiency “About the flu vaccine”, for Elisabeth Bouvet, president of the HAS technical committee on vaccinations. For a vaccine “Well tolerated” which only generates “Small allergy problems”.
When and how much?
Smaller than expected deliveries to Europe caused controversy last week. According to the Ministry of Health, 2.5 million doses should arrive by the end of the month, including 465,000 first doses next week, 700,000 more the following week. 10 million doses must arrive in France by the end of April.
What about the Russian vaccine?
Russian sovereign wealth fund vaccine says Spoutnik V, which uses similar vaccine technology is 91% effective (but only in symptomatic patients), according to an article in Thursday in The Lancet. Certain states are urging the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to quickly examine the registration request filed on January 20. Will he come before the vaccine of the Belgian-American Janssen, also of the same type, who must pass his exam by early March?
On the side of the elders
Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are the only vaccines recommended for people over 75 years old. One million first-time injections should be performed in February (a little over 1.5 million in January). In the immediate future, the new vaccine will not accelerate the rate of vaccination of the most exposed.
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