Two main criteria were taken into account by the High Authority for Health (HAS) to establish this prioritization: the existence of an individual risk factor for developing a severe form of the disease and increased exposure to Covid-19 .
- Has established three types of population to be vaccinated as a priority: the elderly, people suffering from a chronic pathology and finally health professionals.
- Based on these findings, HAS developed a preliminary vaccine strategy, which would take place in five phases.
The HAS has refined its recommendations on the prioritization of populations to be vaccinated against Covid-19 drawn up last July. First of all, it specifies, as Emmanuel Macron had indicated during his last televised speech, “that it does not recommend, at this stage, to make vaccination against Covid-19 compulsory”. It then establishes three types of populations to be vaccinated as a priority: the elderly, people suffering from a chronic pathology and finally health professionals.
Identified comorbidities
“The two most important risk factors for serious forms are age above all, as well as the presence of comorbidities”, justifies the health agency. The HAS retains as “comorbidities” the following pathologies: obesity (BMI >30) in particular in the youngest, COPD and respiratory failure, complicated arterial hypertension, heart failure, type 1 and 2 diabetes, kidney failure chronic, recent cancers less than three years old, solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and finally trisomy 21. “Other pathologies or forms of disability may be integrated as knowledge is acquired”, say the experts.
Professionals most at risk
Regarding the risk of exposure to Covid-19, HAS has established that the professionals most at risk are medical health professionals, paramedics and medical auxiliaries, stretcher-bearers as well as social workers and service sector personnel. to the person likely to receive and be in contact with patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Five phases of vaccination
Based on these findings, HAS developed a preliminary vaccine strategy, which would take place in five phases. The idea is to adapt to the quantity and quality of vaccines available, and to vaccinate the French in the following order:
First phase
– Elderly people residing in an accommodation establishment for dependent elderly people (EHPAD) or any other collective accommodation.
– Professionals in the health sector, the medico-social sector and medical transport.
Second phase
– People over 75, then people aged 65-74 with a comorbidity, then other people aged 65-74.
Third phase
– People over 50 or under 50 but at risk of a serious form due to their comorbidities.
– Professionals from sectors essential to the functioning of the country, such as the security or education sectors for example.
Fourth phase
– People highly exposed to the Sars-Cov-2 virus and who have not been vaccinated previously (because they are under 50 and without comorbidity).
– Professionals whose work environment favors infection (regular contact with the public, closed environment, etc.)
– Vulnerable or precarious people with a less favorable prognosis in the event of infection with Covid-19 (resident in a psychiatric hospital, homeless, prisoners, etc.).
Fifth phase
– People over the age of 18 and without comorbidity.
Marketing between the end of December 2020 and the beginning of 2021
The pharmaceutical companies Pfizer / BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca are betting on the marketing between the end of December 2020 and the beginning of 2021 of their vaccine against Covid-19 intended for adults. For children, this period should be extended by several months.
2,218,483 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been recorded since the start of the epidemic in France. 198 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded in the last 24 hours in hospital, bringing the total toll to 52,325 deaths .
.
