Public Health France acknowledged on Tuesday “delays” for vaccination against monkey pox that the authorities have decided to offer preventively to the most exposed groups, in particular homosexuals, but ensures that “all those concerned (… ) can be vaccinated”.
A spike in cases
Faced with the rise in cases of monkeypox and difficulties in tracing the chains of contamination, France announced the extension of vaccination, starting this week, but the health authorities are facing a growing number of criticisms making Difficulty getting an appointment. “Given the high demand, delays for making appointments and injections may be observed during the first days of the campaign”, agreed Public Health France in a press release.
“In addition, although vaccines against Monkeypox are indeed part of the strategic stock and that, for everyone’s safety, information related to this stock is classified and cannot be disclosed, the health authorities confirm that all of the people concerned by the indications of the HAS can be vaccinated”, she however assured.
A toll-free number set up
The authorities have decided to set up a “Monkeypox Info service” toll-free number (0801 90 80 69) accessible from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and 7 days a week to inform the public about the epidemic and vaccination. In addition, if certain vaccination centers have been “already active for several days” for example in Ile-de-France, “other centers will open, from this week and in the weeks to come, to cover the “the whole of the metropolitan and overseas territory”, highlights Public Health France.
Since the start of the epidemic and as of July 8, more than 700 vaccinations of people considered to be at-risk contacts have been carried out post-exposure.
Weak vaccination criticized
Criticisms of the slow start of the vaccination process have flourished on social networks, relayed by associations or politicians such as the socialist group in the National Assembly which on Tuesday challenged the Minister of Health François Braun on the need to “react quick”.
The possibility of preventive vaccination concerns “men who have sex with men and trans people reporting multiple sexual partners, people in a situation of prostitution, professionals in places of sexual consumption”.
“Vaccination can also be considered on a case-by-case basis for health professionals who have to take care of sick people,” said Public Health France.