Last week, the vaccine campaign against Covid-19 took a new turn. The 4 million French people aged 50 to 64 suffering from co-morbidities (obesity, diabetes, hypertension, etc.) can now approach their attending physician for a vaccination in the city office with the vaccine from the British firm AstraZeneca. Who wants to put an end to its setbacks and show that its formula is as effective (in addition to being more "practical", from a logistical point of view, no need for super freezers at -70 ° C) than its competitors said to messenger RNA , Pfizer and Moderna. Prof. Alain Fischer, Chairman of the Vaccine Strategy Orientation Council, defended AstraZeneca's serum at the latest press conference on February 25 on Covid-19, saying: "This vaccine should not be considered to be a second category vaccine".
And it’s not this recent preliminary study by researchers at the University of Edinburgh that will contradict him. It shows that in Scottish patients vaccinated with this serum, severe forms of Covid-19 (requiring hospitalization) decreased by 94% four weeks after the administration of the first dose (the second only takes place nine to twelve weeks later as a reminder). A figure higher than that observed with the vaccine from Pfizer (85%). In older people too, the risk of hospitalization drops sharply. With a drop of 81% for those over 80 vaccinated with AstraZeneca.
Reassuring results while the serum of the British firm suffered from bad press for lack of sufficient data in elderly populations. As a result, France – like other countries in the European Union – has for the moment not made the choice to direct this serum towards the elderly populations most at risk, preferring the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. And even if it means going against the advice of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which from the outset approved the use of this serum for those over 18 … and without an age limit.
With this new study, things are changing and the High Authority for Health has revised its copy. Oliver Véran, guest of the JT of France 2 on Monday, confirmed that she is now in favor of vaccination of over 65s (those with comorbidities first of all) with AstraZeneca serum. Like the 50 to 64 year olds, the vaccination will take place in a city office, the people concerned must therefore contact their doctor. And as soon as the pharmaceutical giant's deliveries of doses are sufficient, pharmacists will also be able to prick patients in their pharmacies.
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