In a notice made public on January 26, the Vaccine Strategy Guidance Council (COSV),chaired by Alain Fischer, considers that the available international and French scientific data do not currently call for the introduction of a second booster vaccination, and this despite the current context of strong viral circulation of the Omicron variant.
With the exception of severely immunocompromised people, for whom the COSV had already recommended the systematic injection of a second booster dose of vaccination, a second dose of booster vaccination extended to other audiences “would not bring any significant individual benefit“, estimates the COSV. In addition, the collective interest of setting up a second recall, which for the moment would address a restricted target of around 3 million people, appears “just as limited in the short term. -term”.
Furthermore, the COSV fears that setting up a second reminder generates a counter-productive effect regarding the continuation of the current vaccination campaign. Indeed, “such a measure could be interpreted as a signal of ineffectiveness of vaccination by public opinion and thus induce a risk of disengagement with regard to vaccination perceived as too frequent.”
He stresses, however, that he “may change his position according to the publication of new scientific data”.
Among those vaccinated with a booster in September, few are in intensive care
The body is based in particular on a study by the British health agency according to which people aged 65 and over who have received a booster are protected up to 89% against the risk of hospitalization from ten weeks after the injection. In addition, “the current hospitalization data provided by the DREEs indicate that the population who received their booster in September and October represents only a small contingent of people who are hospitalized or in intensive care”.
A few days ago, the President of the Scientific Council explained that to launch a vaccination campaign for a fourth dose, it was necessary to rely on “solid” scientific data. Olivier Véran, questioned on this subject on Tuesday January 25 on LCI, had replied: “If a 4th injection makes it possible to protect the most fragile vis-à-vis the risk of serious forms, we will do it, and if on the other hand it is not not necessary, we will not do it”.
As for Professor Alain Fischer, he expressed some doubts about the data from Israel, where the 4th dose is now extended to all adults. “There is not enough scientific evidence and “we lack data”, those coming from Israel being at this stage “unclear”he said during a press briefing on January 25.
Sources:
- Ministry of Health press conference, January 25, 2022.
- Opportunity to implement a second booster dose, Vaccine Strategy Guidance Council, opinion of January 19, 2022.
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- Variant Omicron: most common symptoms, incubation, duration
