Before their next deployment, which is due to start in mid-February, the sailors of the French carrier strike group (GAN) are subject to a vaccination campaign against Covid-19. Conducted in Toulon by the Army Health Service, it began Thursday January 21 and should end this Friday 29. Eight days to vaccinate nearly 3000 sailors from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and his escort, who must leave for four months in operation in the Eastern Mediterranean, Red Sea and Indian Ocean. Of the 3,192 sailors arming GAN units, 2,800 were vaccinated on Tuesday evening and 126 more must be by tomorrow. The balance includes about 200 people who cannot, for medical reasons, be vaccinated, and only about fifty soldiers who refused the injection, which is their right.
This vaccination campaign was decided to prevent a recurrence of the epidemic that occurred on Charles de Gaulle and part of its escort last year. The GAN had for the record been obliged to cut short the end of its previous mission and to return to Toulon precipitously at the beginning of April after an explosion in the number of cases on board. Several sailors had been hospitalized. In 2010 tests carried out within the carrier strike group on its return to France, 1081 were found to be positive, mostly on the aircraft carrier, the spread of the coronavirus having been facilitated by the promiscuity reigning on this building. Since then, measures have been taken to limit the risks and adapt certain premises. But there are still 2,000 people left in a small space. Hence the vaccination campaign, which will be doubled by a period of fourteen crews before leaving on mission.
This vaccination campaign has obviously caused some turmoil, since it comes at a time when the health services have had difficulties, for several days, to meet the population’s demand for vaccination (the campaign still focuses on people over 75 years and those considered at risk). It should be noted, however, that the treatment of GAN sailors began when the vaccination campaign was in full swing (more than 120,000 per day on January 21 and 22), just before it was reduced significantly (he there were only 66,000 on Monday) due to the surprise drop in vaccine deliveries by manufacturers. The nearly 3,000 vaccinated sailors, however, represent a tiny share (0.27%) of the 1.1 million French people vaccinated for three weeks.
© An article by the editorial staff of Mer et Marine. Reproduction prohibited without the consent of the author (s).
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