In front of the Assembly, Olivier Véran defends the government's vaccine strategy staunchly

The Minister of Health Olivier Véran affirms it: the government does not navigate on sight in its vaccination campaign.

REUTERS - GONZALO FUENTES

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Hearing this Tuesday by the Social Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, the French Minister of Health Olivier Véran once again ardently defended the government's vaccine strategy. 

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In the vaccination campaign against Covid-19, France is lagging behind its European neighbors.

But for Olivier Véran, the time is not yet for

mea culpa

.

We are not sailing by sight,"

says the Minister of Health.

Our strategy has not changed, neither have the priorities.

 “The schedule, however, has been accelerated, says Olivier Véran.

Objective: 1 million French people vaccinated at the end of January.

For that, it will be necessary to operate in just-in-time.

The elderly living in retirement homes remain the first priority targets.

But to these were added earlier than expected health professionals over 50 years or fragile.

These caregivers currently represent more than two thirds of people vaccinated. 

Criticized from all sides for several weeks, the Minister of Health also defended before the Committee on Social Affairs of the National Assembly the choice to appeal to the private sector to facilitate appointment scheduling.

No shortage of equipment, according to Véran

He also reassured about the equipment available to nursing staff.

“ 

We have 3.3 million needles in stock, we will receive an additional 2 million in the coming days.

We have 4.6 million syringes in stock, and we will also receive some in the coming days,

details Olivier Véran. 

This week, 850,000 needles and 600,000 syringes are destocked for the territories, in addition to all the equipment available to hospitals by nature.

 "

Olivier Véran also recalled that France would receive 500,000 doses per week of the Pfizer vaccine.

If we add them to the doses from Moderna, they should - if the minister is to be believed - allow the country to finally speed up the pace of vaccinations.

Next Monday, those over 75 will be able to start receiving the injection, in centers, by appointment, or if it is impossible at home.

The 1st deliveries of the Moderna vaccine will take place this week in areas where the circulation of the virus is the most intense, said the Ministry of Health. 

But there will be only 50,000 doses of Moderna for now.

The vaccination campaign continues to rely on vaccines from Pfizer BioNTech.

From the start, they have been fairly distributed in the regions, whatever the epidemic situation, which makes some local elected officials squeak.

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