According to the latest epidemiological report from Public Health France dated September 18, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been circulating intensely since June 2024. What about the coming fall?
Tl;dr
- Increase in Covid-19 since the start of the school year and summer 2024.
- Forecasts of a drop in infections after the summer wave.
- New vaccination campaign planned for the fall.
A return to school under the sign of Covid-19
The start of the school year has always been synonymous with lice, colds and gastroenteritis. This year, it is Covid-19 that is at the center of all concerns. Indeed, since the start of the school year, messages reporting a Increase in Covid-19 cases in schools are multiplying on social networks.
Active circulation of the virus since summer 2024
It must be said that the virus has been actively circulating since the summer of 2024. According to the latest epidemiological report from Public Health France dated September 18, the increase in syndromic indicators is confirmed, particularly among those under 65.
An observation corroborated by the epidemiologist and director of the Institute of Global Health at the University of Geneva, Professor Antoine Flahault, who mentions “a period of fairly intense circulation of SARS-CoV-2 during the summer of 2024”.
#COVID19
📈 active circulation of SARS-CoV-2 since June
➡adoption of #BarrierGestures & wearing a mask 😷 in case of symptoms to protect against a respiratory infection and limit the risk of transmission
📰Bulletin 18/09⤵ pic.twitter.com/os7ASkhFtj— SantépubliqueFrance (@SantePubliqueFr) September 18, 2024
Rather reassuring forecasts for the fall
Despite this observation, Professor Flahault wants to be reassuring for the fall. According to him, “we have not observed any particular resurgence of the epidemic” since the start of the school year. On the contrary, it would even be possible to expect a decrease in contaminations in the coming weeks.
But he remains cautious and stresses that it is “difficult and still too early to answer these questions, as Covid has shown that it remains difficult to predict.”
A new vaccination campaign announced
Faced with this uncertainty, the health authorities have decided to play it safe. A new vaccination campaign is thus planned for the fall, with a “new formulation of the vaccine adapted to the currently circulating strains (Omicron JN.1),” says Professor Flahault.
From October 15, 2024, two vaccination campaigns against Covid-19 and against influenza will be conducted jointly, announces the Directorate General of Health (DGS). A precautionary measure intended to anticipate “the coming cold season, which we know is always a period of higher circulation of respiratory viruses”, including that of Covid.
