In front of the deputies, Agnès Buzyn defended the expansion of the vaccination obligation. Asked about the risks of adjuvants, she maintained their absence of harmfulness.
The form leaves much to be desired, but the message is clear. For the Minister of Health, Agnès Buzyn, the debate on the danger of vaccines is irrelevant. “We are in the most total irrational”, she declared this July 26 to the National Assembly. The tenant of avenue Duquesne answered the questioning of Frédérique Tuffnell, during the session of Questions to the government.
MP LREM suggested the use of “less harmful” alternatives to the adjuvants currently in use. Aluminum salts are, in fact, at the heart of a heated controversy, in part fueled by the anti-vaccine leagues.
90 years of hindsight
These products are used to improve the body’s immune response during vaccination. Present in many vaccines – DT Polio, Gardasil in particular – they are suspected of promoting various autoimmune diseases.
But in the eyes of the Minister of Health, this debate does not make sense. “The adjuvant is necessary for the vaccine to be effective,” she reminded the microphone. We have a 90-year history of use, and several hundred million doses of vaccine used. “
Quoting a report from the World Health Organization, Agnès Buzyn therefore concluded without hesitation: “Adjuvants are not harmful to health, all the reports show. “
Vaccines: “We have seen more than 90 years of adjuvants! We are totally irrational!”, Says @agnesbuzyn #DirectAN pic.twitter.com/KMKxpImH1F
– LCP (@LCP) July 26, 2017
However, these remarks would have deserved to be somewhat moderate. One thing is clear: the vaccines that will be made mandatory in 2018 have more benefits than risks, there is no doubt. On the other hand, hesitation persists, even at the scientific level.
The doubt persists
In his report dedicated to aluminum adjuvants, the Academy of Pharmacy itself recognizes that the facts give rise to doubt. “In an unexplained manner, the cases of myofasciitis with macrophages were not described until about sixty years after the beginnings of the use of aluminum as adjuvant”, specify the authors of the document. They also note the uneven distribution of cases in the territory.
Another surprising finding: diagnoses peaked from 1994 to 2002 before falling again. “A single new case of macrophagic myofasciitis would have occurred since 2012, while currently, around 12 million doses (…) are administered each year”, figures the report. Even if a link existed, the cases would therefore remain rare. This does not therefore call into question the value of vaccination.
Another French researcher pleads for reasonable doubt. According to the work of Romain Gherardi, stationed at Henri-Mondor hospital (Créteil, Val-de-Marne), aluminum particles could be associated with symptoms of macrophagic myofasciitis. But in one situation only: in people who are genetically predisposed.
Social networks involved
For the Minister of Health, the root of the problem does not concern the scientific level but that of information. “We are working today to fight against social networks and to fight against disinformation,” she said to applause. In fact, the absence of a communication campaign on its vaccination policy could well be detrimental to the government.
Especially since the position of Agnès Buzyn seems difficult to hold. Despite her opposition to the principle of obligation, the minister considers that she is “obliged” to resort to it in the face of the drop in vaccination coverage. “If there were no obligation, we know that the coverage rate would drop, because of all these social networks and because of this disinformation,” she insisted.
On social networks, precisely, this accusation is received in a shared manner.
Agnès Buzyn is of rare intelligence and a very good speaker ?????????
– carab’4 (@GaetanLecatre) July 27, 2017
Buzyn complains of having to fight against social networks: disinformation !!! we are putting sticks in the wheels of lobbyists ???? ?????? https://t.co/uJY8eTBPJy
– rebellious montblanc φ (@ christine74400) July 27, 2017
#vaccines “I do not understand that Agnès Buzyn is based on a 2003 study, while recent studies are available” Me Bergel, lawyer pic.twitter.com/IgBGalAbif
– Raphaëlle Duchemin (@DucheminRapha) July 27, 2017
>> Consult our thematic sheet: Vaccines, all the more effective if the entire population is protected
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