The unvaccinated are over-represented among Covid patients in hospitals.
Some countries have therefore decided to impose new health restrictions on them.
Like Austria, which announced on Sunday the entry into force of a lockdown for people who have not been vaccinated or who have not recovered from Covid-19.
But France does not seem ready to adopt such measures, for political, legal and efficiency reasons.
Red alert. The incidence rate is expected to exceed 100 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants this week. And it is not over, according to Pascal Crépey, epidemiologist at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en santé publique: “We can expect a sharp increase in cases between now and the next Christmas holidays. Especially since in winter, we spend more time in closed places and we ventilate the rooms less ”.
To contain the increase in the coronavirus epidemic, the government is counting on the measures announced by Emmanuel Macron last Tuesday.
Namely, from December 15, the health pass for over 65s to a booster dose.
And reinstate from this Monday the mask at school.
While continuing to encourage the unvaccinated to get bitten.
“The fifth wave will be that of the unvaccinated and fragile people not recalled.
Each injection takes a patient away from the hospital and brings us collectively closer to a peaceful winter, ”Gabriel Attal said on Saturday.
Tuesday, Emmanuel Macron had himself again urged Tuesday the some 6 million French people "who have not received any dose" to be vaccinated, in the name of "the spirit of responsibility".
Tightening of measures in some countries
But some countries no longer want to be satisfied with simple words to try to convince those resistant to vaccination. They are now taking action. Austria announced on Sunday the entry into force on Monday of a lockdown for people who have not been vaccinated or who have not recently contracted Covid-19. The persons concerned will not have the right to leave their home except for shopping, sports or for medical care. And unannounced checks will be carried out.
Another example of a toughening of the tone with regard to unvaccinated people: from Monday, Berlin will prohibit them from access, in particular to restaurants without a terrace, to bars, to sports halls and to hairdressing salons.
A negative test will no longer allow access to these public places if they are not vaccinated or cannot prove that they are cured of the disease.
This type of device has already entered into force last week in
Saxony.
As for Singapore, from December 8, the country will stop covering the medical costs of patients with coronavirus who have refused to be vaccinated.
Too much political risk in France
Would this type of measure vis-à-vis the unvaccinated be possible in France? No, several experts answer in chorus. First of all because the health situation in France differs from some of the countries which have adopted these devices, as Laurent Chambaud, director of the School of Advanced Studies in Public Health, emphasizes: “In our country, 75% of the population adult is fully vaccinated and 80% is partially. Whereas
Austria
,
65% of the population received both doses of the vaccine ”.
In addition, making the hat of new measures only by the unvaccinated would not be a miracle remedy against the resumption of the epidemic, explains Pascal Crépey: “Of course, coercive measures against them are likely to protect them and reduce the burden of hospitalizations.
But they could not make it possible to stop the epidemic dynamic, since vaccination
protects only 50% of the transmission of the virus ”.
In addition, measures targeted at the unvaccinated could not be accepted by the main stakeholders. “It is very likely that the restrictions would not be well respected. Moreover, increasing the constraints on the population that refuses the vaccine would be likely to radicalize it. Without however managing to make her change her mind, ”says Pascal Crépey. And in the pre-election period, the political risk would undoubtedly be too great. “The government preferred a strong incentive logic for vaccination and it worked rather well. We have to keep a coherent strategy, ”emphasizes Laurent Chambaud. Without forgetting the legal obstacle to such measures. Because the Constitutional Council could challenge them, judging that they would infringe the principle of equality.
Other possible fields of action
But not to consider such measures vis-à-vis the unvaccinated does not mean that the public authorities are waiting in the face of the epidemic resumption.
The government could, for example, decide to communicate more actively on the need to better respect barrier gestures.
Because in stores, we tend to get less gel.
The north wind has made a comeback in social relations and the holidays have regained strength.
“However, if each of us reduced our social contacts by 30%, this would automatically lead to a decrease in contamination,” recalls Pascal Crépey.
More energetic action towards the 15% of French people over 80 who are not vaccinated could also be considered. “The latter think they are safe from Covid-19, because they go out little. But it is a lure because they can be contaminated by their close relations, underlines Pascal Crépey. “You have to do a lace job to understand where their reluctance comes from. And involve general practitioners, pharmacists and local authorities so that they serve as communication relays, ”suggests Laurent Chambaud. According to him, communication around the interest of the third dose is also necessary “to remove the reluctance of those who are reluctant to return to be vaccinated.And we have to organize ourselves to gradually re-mobilize the vaccination centers so that the boosters take place 6 months after the last dose ”. For him, “the issue of childhood vaccination must also be re-examined. And the Haute Autorité de Santé must decide on the subject ”. Finally, the testing policy could also be reviewed, according to Pascal Crépey: "We must reactivate the tests by reimbursing them again, in order to be able to isolate the infected people as quickly as possible".in order to be able to isolate infected people as quickly as possible ”.in order to be able to isolate infected people as quickly as possible ”.
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