Anti-Covid vaccine: why has the time between the two doses been shortened?

The Ministry of Health announced Tuesday that the time between two injections of an anti-Covid vaccine with messenger RNA, Pfizer or Moderna, is reduced to a minimum of three weeks.

The stated objective is to vaccinate the French more quickly before leaving on vacation and to fight against the spread of the Delta variant, of Indian origin.  

New relaxation of the rules for vaccination against Covid-19.

Now people vaccinated with a messenger RNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) will be able to receive their second dose, just three weeks after the first.

The Minister of Health announced it on Tuesday.

And the government assures it, this relaxation does not change the effectiveness of the vaccine against the coronavirus. 

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So that the organization of the holidays does not slow down the making of an appointment, the Minister of Health has decided to relax the rules: a second dose of vaccine is now possible three weeks after the first.

The 21 to 49 day delay between two doses is not a new invention.

It is provided for in the marketing authorization.

23 million doses of messenger RNA vaccine delivered in June

Initially, the deadline was set at six weeks to allow a maximum of first injections in a context of dropper deliveries.

But now, vaccines are pouring in: 23 million doses, mainly Pfizer and Moderna, must be delivered in June.

This is twice as much as in April.

Deliveries will be the same in July and August.

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The second injection should always be given at the same place as the first.

But it can take between three and seven weeks between the two injections.

This novelty is taken into account on the meeting platforms from this Wednesday morning.

The objective is also to speed up the second injections in the face of the threat of variants.

As we know, with two doses, messenger RNA vaccines remain more than 85% effective against the Delta variant which is of concern.

This variant of Indian origin has even become the majority across the Channel;