"It turns out that when you wait a little longer for the second dose, the vaccine efficacy is better," argued Thursday the president of the High Authority for Health (HAS), Dominique Le Guludec, questioned about vaccination with AstraZeneca , interrupted last week for those under 55. 

Those under 55 who have already received a first dose of the anti-Covid AstraZeneca vaccine in France should not worry about their second dose, the High Authority for Health (HAS) said on Thursday, while vaccination in this population was discontinued last week.

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"When you wait a bit, the vaccine efficacy is better"

The HAS recommended Friday to reserve the vaccine of the Anglo-Swedish laboratory for people 55 years and over, following serious and rare cases of coagulation disorders, observed rather in young people.

But those under 55 who had received a first injection of the vaccine before this decision "do not have to worry" about their second dose, since a 12 week interval is recommended between the two doses, a assured on franceinfo the president of the HAS, Dominique Le Guludec.

"It turns out that when you wait a little longer for the second dose, the vaccine efficacy is better. So there is no worry, you can wait the 12 weeks, or even a little longer, and by then we will have the answers, ”she said.

"We have time to respond because the second dose is done in the third month and we started injecting (the AstraZeneca vaccine) in early February," added Professor Le Guludec.

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The possibility of mixed vaccines - receiving a first dose of AstraZeneca and a second of Pfizer or Moderna - is also "under study" because "we will need mixed vaccine schedules, if only for the variants" of the coronavirus.

Vaccination remains "the number one priority" and "we are doing everything to facilitate the campaign", added Professor Le Guludec, according to which the decision to call on other professions (veterinarians, etc.) to lend a hand is "imminent".