Europe 1 with AFP 3:25 p.m., December 27, 2022
The president of Covars Brigitte Autran, successor to the Scientific Council, indicated on Tuesday that only 40% of people over 70 have received a new booster vaccine against Covid-19.
A "very insufficient" rate, she estimated, recalling that there are still "between 135 and 150 deaths per day from Covid".
Only 40% of people over 70 have received a new vaccine booster against Covid-19, a “very insufficient” rate, immunologist Brigitte Autran, president of the Health Risk Monitoring and Anticipation Committee, estimated on Tuesday ( Covars) on RMC.
"We are in the process of passing the peak" of the new epidemic wave, nevertheless in France there are still "between 135 and 150 deaths per day from Covid", a disease "always serious, particularly serious in people who have not not been vaccinated (or) who have not had their booster", hammered Dr. Autran.
Decrease in contaminations and hospitalizations due to Covid
According to the latest figures from the health authorities, the current wave of Covid-19 in France is slowing down in terms of contamination and now hospitalizations.
Recalling that vaccination makes it possible to reduce the severity of the disease, Brigitte Autran indicated that we "now arrive at 4.5 million vaccinations since October 3", the start date of the last recall campaign.
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"With this new vaccination campaign, it is estimated that around 40% of people over 70 have had a booster, it is very insufficient, we would like it to be almost 100%. I remind you that it is recommended from 60 years old and open to everyone," she said.
"We have made progress, but what is really problematic is in nursing homes where the vaccination rate is insufficient," she added.
The flu "rises very significantly"
She also urged the French to get vaccinated against the flu, which is "rising very significantly".
Currently, "only 22% of staff" are vaccinated, "it's really a shame", she regretted.
Brigitte Autran also expressed fears about the consequences of the rebound of the Covid epidemic in China in terms of drug supplies.
“This wave (of Covid in China) was not planned and risks significantly unbalancing the stocks of drugs and antibiotics”, she underlined.
Asked about the hypothesis of an end to the pandemic in 2023, the immunologist was very reserved.
"We all hope so, but we know that the Covid will stay anyway, it will come back periodically. We all hope that it will be less and less severe thanks to vaccination. But for the moment we have not still a very reliable prognosis," she said.