Long neglected, self-tests have once again become, with the approach of the holidays, a privileged tool in the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic.
“I should have received them last Tuesday and for the moment still nothing“. Philippe Besset, president of the Federation of Pharmaceutical Syndicates of France (FSPF), is not better off than his fellow pharmacists. Like them, he was surprised by the extent of the demand for self-tests on the eve of the Christmas holidays. All have therefore placed large orders with their suppliers, who are therefore unable to meet them in such a short time. As a result, there are sometimes shortages for several weeks in many pharmacies. “We haven’t had them for three weeks and I don’t know when we will receive them», Testifies an Altoséquanese pharmacist.
At the origin of this rush on self-tests, the recommendations of the Scientific Council, which recommended using this tool on the very day of the reunion: “the most useful gesture consists, for all participants, and in particular the less fragile, the youngest and the most socially active, to screen themselves, either by a self-test the same day or by an antigen test the day before.The second option is not always accessible, due to the closure of pharmacies on Saturday December 25 and Sunday 26, many French people have opted for the first.
Read alsoCovid-19 screening tests: laboratories sound the alarm
“We were a bit taken aback», Admits Philippe Besset. “I ordered 1000 doses, and the 20,000 pharmacies in France have more or less done the same. It is normal that there are difficulties in satisfying everyone», He explains lucidly. “On the other hand, we will have 20 million self-tests for Christmas Eve, so there will be no more to worry about», He reassures.
What place for the self-test in the health strategy?
Behind the scenes is the question of the place of this screening tool in the strategy to fight the epidemic. Unlike its European neighbors, France has relied almost exclusively on PCR and antigen tests: “they had the triple advantage of being more efficient, of being reimbursed and above all of allowing traceability of the virus (the positive results are recorded on the Sidep platform, for Population screening information system) ”, emphasizes Philippe Besset.
Problem, if they are free for the French, these tests have a cost for public finances. A load quickly unbearable when nearly a million are practiced every day in the country. It is also a time-consuming activity for pharmacists who must also manage the booster vaccination campaign, that of 5-11 year olds and a few weeks ago that of seasonal flu, all while continuing to deliver medication and advice.
Read alsoVaccines, treatments, tests: the big winners from the health crisis
“Each type of test must find a specific place», Considers Philippe Besset. According to him, the PCR should only be used in a complementary way by people who have already tested positive for Covid. The aim is to allow screening of the virus to determine the variant. The antigenic “reliable and fastShould be used by symptomatic people to verify or not whether they are carriers of Covid-19, as well as by contact cases. Finally, the self-test must support barrier gestures, an additional means of protecting yourself and your loved ones when nothing indicates that you are sick.
To speed up the transition, Philippe Besset is counting on free self-tests for precarious populations as well as the introduction of the vaccination pass to replace the health pass. A measure that collects a majority of positive opinions and that the government would like to put in place.
SEE ALSO – Covid-19: before Christmas, test laboratories taken by storm