Seven positive cases on March 27 for covid-19 in a nursing home in Marckolsheim in the Bas-Rhin among vaccinated residents and doubt is setting in. Vaccination does not prevent contamination but limits the development of severe forms of the disease.
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On the front door of theEhpad of Marckolsheim, we can read that the establishment has been closed to the public since March 27. In fact, 11 residents tested positive for covid-19, among them seven had received the double injection of the Pfizer vaccine. The opportunity to remember that vaccination does not protect against possible contamination and contagiousness but on the other hand makes it possible to greatly reduce the risk of developing serious forms of the disease.
Doctor Stéphane Gayet, infectious disease specialist at Strasbourg university hospitals, also explains that the elderly “have a declining immunity, this is called immunosénescence. This is why it is important to massively vaccinate the staff of the Ehpads. And then, the influenza virus is a very particular virus which constantly mutates. immunization time is long, especially in the elderly “.
The aim is to limit the number of hospitalizations
Professor Yves Hansmann, infectious disease specialist at NHC de Strasbourg to confirm. “After the first injection, it takes 15 days before immunity begins to set in. The amount of antibody then increases gradually and then comes the second injection, three weeks later for complete immunity”. But again, that doesn’t mean one can’t catch the virus.
“The vaccine is a good protection but the probability of developing the disease is not zero, explains Stéphane Gayet. What the authorities are asking for this vaccine is to limit the severe forms of covid-19 so as not to clog hospitals, adds Yves Hansmann. We take Israel a lot as an example, but with mass vaccination the fact is that the number of hospitalizations has gone down. “
The two infectious disease specialists rely mainly on collective immunity which will slow down the circulation of the virus and get us out of this crisis. And to remember that vaccination does not mean the end of barrier gestures. “Strict respect for wearing a mask and physical distances limits the amount of viral loads that can be received and therefore, again, limits the risks of developing serious forms of the disease”, recalls Stéphane Gayet. Moreover, theARS launched a communication campaign aimed at the general public to maintain barrier gestures.
A campaign to encourage the continuity of barrier gestures despite vaccination
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© Regional Health Agency
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The Marckolsheim nursing home should be able to reopen its doors on April 8 depending on the evolution of the situation. Today a little less than 80% of residents in nursing homes and USLDs (long-term care units) in Alsace have received two doses of vaccines, while 13% of the total regional population have received at least one dose.
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