Covid-19: not yet injected, the Janssen vaccine already slowed down in Europe

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is due to speak next week on the Janssen vaccine, from the Johnson & Johnson laboratory after the use of this serum against Covid-19 has been suspended in the United States and South Africa. South due to the rare occurrence of severe blood clots.

This is a new unforeseen event in the vaccine campaign against Covid-19.

The Johnson & Johnson laboratory announced Tuesday that it was postponing "the deployment" of its Janssen vaccine in Europe.

A little earlier, the American health authorities had recommended to take a break in the use of this serum, after receiving several reports of severe cases of blood clots.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) must now express itself next week on this vaccine, which was supposed to boost vaccination in France and could well cause delays.

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Pending a decision from the European Medicines Agency

For the time being, the age restriction of the Janssen vaccine, intended for people over 55 and recalled by Gabriel Attal on Wednesday morning, is not a problem since vaccination is not yet open in France to younger citizens .

And if the country did receive doses, injections could start next week, as originally planned.

Everything should therefore depend on the opinion of the EMA in the coming days, which still believes for the time being that the risk / benefit balance is favorable. 

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8 million doses expected by June

The question now arises as to how the deliveries will unfold, since the Johnson & Johnson laboratory has suspended the deployment of its serum in Europe.

Currently, 200,000 doses have already arrived in France and are being sent to doctors and pharmacists.

But in total, the country expects 600,000 for the entire month of April, and 8 million by June.

It is therefore the opinion of European experts that will make it possible to unblock the current situation. 

However, if the deployment is too late, these Janssen vaccines will represent over the months of April and May less than 16% of the total deliveries expected in France.