Jean Castex and Olivier Véran at the Elysée.
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Jacques Witt / SIPA
Jean Castex will present this Thursday at 6 p.m. the government strategy on vaccines, a new crucial step in the management of the coronavirus epidemic.
After failures on the masks and the tests, the executive wants to succeed in this new challenge, but the logistical, political and educational issues are important.
To respond to the mistrust of part of the population in the face of the vaccine, the government has chosen in particular to appoint a referent on vaccination and to involve a collective of citizens.
It is a delicate operation.
Prime Minister Jean Castex is to present the vaccination strategy against Covid-19 in France, this Thursday at a press conference at 6 p.m.
The validation of the first vaccines against the virus, expected at European level at the end of December, opens a new chapter in the management of the health crisis, perhaps the most perilous for the executive.
After failures on the stocks of masks in the spring and the deployment of tests during deconfinement, the government wants to succeed in its vaccination campaign.
A first wave of vaccinations will target nursing home residents and nursing staff from the end of December or January.
But the logistical and political issues are important for the second wave of vaccination for the general public, which the executive aims to start in the spring.
Challenge number 1: anticipate
Often criticized by the opposition for its "lack of anticipation", the executive takes care to highlight its preparation for vaccines.
On Wednesday, Jean Castex said on BFMTV that the government had “pre-ordered enough to vaccinate 100 million people”.
To ensure the supply, storage and deployment of doses on the territory, and to establish a priority target audience plan, “an interministerial task force” was created on the vaccination strategy.
Led by Olivier Véran at the Ministry of Health, it also relies on the work of several bodies, including the High Authority for Health, the National Medicines Safety Agency and the European Medicines Agency.
The European Medicines Agency is due to meet on December 29 to give the green light, or not, to the marketing of Pfizer / BioNTech's vaccine in the European Union.
"We are in a European logic, we have to wait for this meeting," we told the Ministry of Health.
In the meantime, the government is preparing to deploy several vaccines in France, including that of Pfizer / BioNTech which requires in particular storage at -70 degrees and including the deployment of vaccination centers.
He also expects to have to adapt his strategy according to the scientific analyzes to come.
"Recommendations on priority audiences may change depending on what we discover on the results of vaccines," explains the Ministry of Health.
Challenge number 2: bringing together elected officials and citizens to demine
Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday that the vaccination strategy would be the subject of a debate in Parliament, but a priori without a vote, as for the deconfinement plan, also presented to the two Chambers at the end of April.
The president also announced on November 24 the establishment of a “citizens' collective […] to involve the population more broadly” in the vaccination strategy.
Who will make up this group and how will it work?
What information will these citizens have access to to review the government immunization plan?
We still do not know anything about this committee, except that it should be attached to Matignon, according to the Elysee.
"The Head of State wants to establish a relationship of trust and transparency with the citizens", justifies the presidency.
“It will not be like the Citizen's Convention for the Climate, but there is the same idea of involving the French, especially since there is mistrust vis-à-vis this vaccination.
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Challenge number 3: respond to the mistrust of the French
Several surveys have indeed shown that a majority of the population is rather reluctant to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
“I don't have any concerns about the organizational aspect of vaccination, I'm more worried about how many people will respond.
The challenge is enormous ”, admits deputy La République en Marche de la Loire and doctor Julien Borowczyk.
A low number of volunteers would reveal a failure in government communication on the vaccine, which will not be mandatory.
The executive has chosen to appoint a “Mr. vaccine” or “vaccine spokesperson”, referent in the matter, whose name should be unveiled this Thursday at the press conference of the Prime Minister.
"This strong mistrust requires sustained communication", justifies the Ministry of Health.
"This person would rather have a vocation to come from the scientific world, and not from politics", we advance.
Could the government also put itself on the stage, like the three former American presidents who said on Thursday that they would volunteer to be vaccinated publicly to encourage the population to do the same?
Our file on the coronavirus
For Julien Borowczyk, president of the information mission on the coronavirus crisis, if reluctance is strong, consideration should be given to making access to certain places conditional on vaccination.
"Some airlines are thinking about it, and in France this could perhaps speed up the reopening of bars, restaurants and nightclubs," says the parliamentarian.
Finally, the executive will have to successfully manage health restrictions, which will remain in force despite vaccination campaigns.
“Obviously, the arrival of vaccines is a very good signal.
But we will have to be extremely careful, the vaccine does not mean that tomorrow you will take your buddy in the arms in a bar ”, explains the Ministry of Health.
The arrival of the vaccine is therefore far from being the end of the tunnel for the government.
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