The American health authorities have announced that they are launching a campaign for a third dose of anti-Covid vaccine from September 20, with the obligation to respect a deadline of 8 months after the second injection.
- The most vulnerable people, namely residents of retirement homes, the oldest and many health professionals will be the first concerned.
- The WHO is opposed to the third injection campaign when other countries do not have enough doses to vaccinate their population.
- In France, the HAS is in favor of a third dose for vulnerable people and those over the age of 80.
The question of a third dose to prolong the protection offered by vaccines continues to be debated around the world. In the United States, health authorities have decided to stop procrastinating and announced on Wednesday that they would soon launch a third injection campaign. “We are ready to offer booster doses for all Americans starting the week of September 20, starting eight months after the second dose”, said the main public health authorities of the country, in a joint statement.
A multi-step campaign
This decision is driven by growing scientific evidence that shows that over time, the immunity conferred by vaccines wanes. “Available data clearly show that protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection begins to decline over timesay the health institutions. Added to the dominance of the Delta variant, we are beginning to see evidence of reduced protection against mild and moderate cases of the disease”, they add, determined to “maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its durability.”
This new campaign, like the first, will be done in several stages. The most vulnerable people, namely residents of retirement homes, the oldest and many health professionals will be the first concerned.
WHO disagrees
This decision is not of everyone’s opinion, starting with the World Health Organization. “It is unacceptable that some countries offer a recall, when so many people are not protected. No one is safe until everyone is”, expressed himself on Twitter Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesusthe director general of the organization, a few hours before the American announcement.
Since July 1 in Israel, people over 60 can receive a third dose of the vaccine only if their second was done more than six months before. In Germany, from September 1, the most vulnerable people and those who have not received a messenger RNA vaccine will also be able to receive a 3rd dose. In France, the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, had indicated during his speech on July 12 that “those vaccinated first, that is to say in January-February, will soon see their antibody levels drop, their immunity decrease”. He added that the third doses would be available for these people from the start of the next school year. However, a few days later, on July 28, the High Authority for Health (HAS) returned an opinion in favor of a recall but only for the vulnerable and those aged over 80. For the others, the HAS should decide at the end of August.
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