Faced with the Delta variant of the coronavirus, some states are more prepared than others.

The epidemic outbreak is real but their hospitals are not overloaded as in previous waves.

And this would be due to their vaccination strategy.

Virologist Marie-Paule Kieny explains why in the morning of Europe 1, Monday. 

INTERVIEW

In the United Kingdom, Israel and Portugal, the delta variant of the coronavirus is hitting the population hard.

People may be vaccinated, but the virus spreads and sometimes causes considerable damage, but not always.

Vaccination still protects these territories subjected to the fourth wave.

But how to explain this difference between the countries?

The virologist Marie-Paule Kieny enlightens us on this question, Monday morning on Europe 1.

In the UK, the Delta variant is wreaking havoc: deaths rose 45% last week when hospitalization levels returned to levels at the end of March.

But if this variant of Covid-19 worries our neighbors across the Channel, this is much less the case in Israel where the epidemic resumption does not really affect hospitalizations.

The vaccine strategy at the heart of this fourth wave

How to explain this difference?

For Marie-Paule Kieny, the answer lies in the vaccination strategy of the two nations.

"Israel, like France, chose to give the two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZenaca vaccines as the manufacturers recommended either with a space of 3 or 4 weeks while in Britain the strategy was to give a first dose to as many people as possible, ”explains the virologist.

As a result, many Britons only have one dose of the vaccine, and therefore are only protected by a maximum of 30% against the Delta variant.

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In France, the Delta variant worries more and more because the vaccine coverage is not very high.

This weekend, 52% of the population had received at least one dose and 35% both.

"The protection with all the vaccines that are authorized in France is a good level of protection, including against the Delta variant", assures Marie-Paule Kieny.

Before adding: "you have taken the step to make a first dose, go do this second dose!", Welcoming the vaccination devices on vacation spots.

The elderly must "make an effort for society"

And even if the country seems to have chosen the right vaccination strategy, like what is happening in Israel, France may not have vaccinated enough elderly people.

In Spain, for example, the epidemic outbreak due to the variant remains moderate in hospitals.

Precisely because the elderly population is largely protected: 100% of over 80s have had their two injections and 90% of over 70s.

For the virologist, "that makes a difference. That's why we should really also convince the oldest people who are at risk that they must also make an effort for society".

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But the virologist does not dispute the rapid opening of vaccination at least 40 years in France. "It was also important to take advantage of the French enthusiasm for vaccination," says Marie-Paule Kieny. "When the vaccine started to be available in larger quantities, it was important to open up to people under 50, then to all young people because we would have risked being even further behind than we are. is today, ”she concludes.