“Do not exceed the sanitary pass.” This is the recommendation of the Academy of Medicine, which calls in a press release dated October 28 not to condition the health pass to a third dose of anti-covid vaccine for eligible people.
This measure is indeed being studied by the government. And the idea of such a condition of the health pass “is gaining ground”, even declared government spokesman Gabriel Attal on October 27 when he left the Council of Ministers. “We have contacted the health authorities, we are awaiting their return”, he continued.
“Transgression” of the role of the health pass
But for the Academy, the answer is clear: this condition of the health pass “transgresses” its role, which was to “limit the risk of transmission of the virus” by encouraging vaccination. Worse, conditioning the health pass on an anti-covid booster dose could give the wrong message by inducing “uncertainty about the effectiveness of vaccination”, fears the institution.
Finally, this measure would risk giving rise to “unjustified discrimination against the most vulnerable people who have already agreed to receive the first two doses of vaccine”, notes the Academy.
Rather target the unvaccinated
On the issue of the booster vaccine, the Academy is clear: a third dose injected six months after the second is justified by the gradual decrease in post-vaccination immunity. And it has already been available to all people at high risk of a severe form of covid since September.
“But should we use coercion vis-à-vis this sensitized population which, for the vast majority, will spontaneously consent to receive the booster vaccine?” asks the press release, which instead suggests targeting people who have not yet been vaccinated.
Nowadays, 20% of French adults are not vaccinated against covid-19. Faced with the threat of a new epidemic outbreak this winter, the Academy recalls that a vaccination coverage of 90% would protect the French population as much as possible.
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