The presence and spread of the Delta variant is of concern to all countries in Europe. In France, the government is working on new measures to strengthen vaccination and all health measures.
- The Delta variant of Covid-19 is progressing throughout Europe.
- In France, the government plans to make vaccination compulsory for caregivers, and even for the general population.
In France, 33,961,307 people received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. Among them, 22,813,043 are fully vaccinated. Of the more than 67 million French people, almost half have therefore started this vaccination process. Despite these figures and the reduction in health measures, we must not forget that the virus is still there and, above all, the Delta variant. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the latter could be the source of a new wave of the pandemic in Europe. Still according to the authority, in this territory, the number of cases would have increased by 10% just last week. The fault, according to the director of WHO Europe, Hans Kluge, to the number of people vaccinated which would still be too insufficient and to “increased mixing, travel, gatherings and easing of social restrictions”. He adds that “there will be a new wave in the european region unless we stay disciplined”. Indeed, without this, the WHO estimates that the Delta variant could be dominant by the end of August. Portugal, a country particularly affected by the variant, has already ordered the resumption of the curfew in several municipalities including Lisbon.
Two doses of vaccine against Covid-19 would protect against the Delta variant
As in the majority of countries, the French government wishes to extend vaccination to fight against the Delta variant. Especially since theEuropean Medicines Agency (EMA) claimed in a tweet posted on July 1 that two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine would protect against the variant. This Friday, July 2, on the sidelines of a trip to Argelès-sur-Mer in the Pyrénées-Orientales, government spokesman Gabriel Attal recalled that the Delta variant was very dangerous and that its spread was increasing on the territory. “Everything must be done to avoid a resumption of the epidemic, he hammered. This summer, it’s the vaccine that comes to you (…). Whether you’re at the beach, hiking, or working, you can get vaccinated”. Nevertheless, on the same day, the Minister of Health Olivier Veran assured that vaccination would not be compulsory for the general population. “We will not force the French to be vaccinated, he asserted. If this debate is valid for caregivers, it is not valid for the general population”.
Compulsory vaccination for all caregivers under discussion
“The question of the vaccination obligation must be quickly raised, first and foremost for professionals in the health, social and medico-social sectors who were the priority targets of vaccination in the first phases of vaccination.can we read in a press release published by the French National Authority for Health (HAS) lon July 1st. Depending on the evolution of the epidemic context and in the event of insufficient progress in vaccination coverage, the reflection on the vaccination obligation could extend to the entire population.”. Guest of Jean-Jacques Bourdin on BFMTV and RMC this Friday July 2Dominique Le Guludec, the president of the College of the High Authority for Health estimated that “caregivers have a role in the transmission of the virus and they must be massively vaccinated. (…) The High Authority of Health is not opposed to the vaccination obligation for caregivers “. A track strongly considered by the government, but not yet decided. A bill is in preparation on this issue.
Finally, last measures to limit the spread of the Delta variant and the arrival of a fourth wave: make the health pass compulsory for gatherings of more than 1,000 people and the end of free PCR tests to encourage the French to get vaccinated. According to the majority of scientists, population immunity will only be achieved if 80% of citizens are vaccinated.
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