This Tuesday, August 24, after being seized by the General Directorate of Health, the High Authority of Health (HAS) gives its opinion on the populations eligible for a booster dose of vaccine against Covid-19. The minimum age required is ultimately not 80 years and it is possible that this dose is administered at the same time as the vaccine against the seasonal flu. Explanations.
Who Can Receive a Covid Vaccine Booster?
Faced with the fourth wave currently raging in France, linked in particular to the circulation of the delta variant, the health authorities wish to increase vaccination coverage and protect the most vulnerable. While it was initially planned that a recall campaign would start from mid-September for people over 80 years old, residents of retirement homes as well as people at very high risk of severe form of the disease , the HAS finally makes some changes.
Indeed, the Health Agency recommends instead administering a booster dose of serum to people aged 65 and over, but also to those who suffer from co-morbidities and who, therefore, have a higher risk of having severe forms of Covid-19. After analyzing the scientific data, it turned out that the effectiveness of vaccines wanes over time, especially against the delta variant, which is rampant today in France.
For the time being, it seems that this drop in efficiency “ mainly concerns infection and symptomatic forms », But is lighter for severe forms.
Which booster dose vaccine?
The vaccine recommended as a booster dose depends on the serum received during the first injection, because not all have the same level of effectiveness against the delta variant. People who have received the Janssen vaccine will receive an mRNA vaccine (Comirnaty® from Pfizer or Spikevax® from Moderna) at least 4 weeks after the injection. As for people who have received a messenger RNA vaccine, they are advised to receive one or the other as a booster dose, because “ there is no sufficient argument, to date, to preferentially recommend one vaccine over the other […] both being very effective against severe forms of Covid-19, including those related to the Delta variant. “
When to call back?
HAS recommends that a period of at least 6 months be observed from the moment the vaccinated person has a complete regimen, either after having received a single dose of the Janssen vaccine or both doses of one of the messenger RNA vaccines.
The flu shot at the same time as the booster dose
Each year, the flu vaccination campaign is scheduled for the fall. For organizational reasons and to simplify the vaccination course, it is advisable to ” carry out the concomitant administration of the vaccines against Covid-19 and against seasonal influenza », Provided that the person is eligible for both. However, this opinion is taken in advance, “ subject to the absence of significant immune interference between the two types of vaccines in ongoing studies. “
