Virginie Riva, edited by Solène Leroux
modified to
9:19 a.m., November 23, 2021
The Scientific Council and the Vaccine Strategy Guidance Council now recommend the third dose for everyone. For the moment, only people aged 65 and over as well as people at risk of severe forms are eligible for a booster dose. Can we get a third injection if we do not meet these criteria?
This is a dilemma that many French people face, especially before the Christmas period and family gatherings… Should we be injected with a third dose? For now, only those over 65 are theoretically eligible for a booster dose, as well as people at risk of serious forms. Those over 50 will be covered from December 1. Should you go for a third dose now if you are under 65? And if you want to do it, do you have to go see your doctor? Should we do a serological test? Europe 1 takes stock.
Six months of waiting after the last injection
If you plan to have a third dose injected, just wait six months from the injection of your second dose or from your contamination if you have had Covid-19. This is the only criterion. The caregiver may not even want to take responsibility for vaccinating you if you come too early. No need to make an appointment with your doctor to have a serological test prescribed. A serology will not help you know if you are still protected by the vaccine. “It has a scientific interest to know what your antibody level is and how much it goes up after a vaccination”, explains Alexandre Bleibtreu, infectious disease specialist.
47% protection after five months
“But for everyone, it’s not necessary. Just because I’m going to have 260 antibody levels doesn’t mean I’m at no risk of catching Covid-19, even if I’m vaccinated. “, insists the infectiologist. We now know that the vaccine has a decrease in effectiveness against contamination over time, according to the recent study published by the medical journal The Lancet conducted on more than three million Americans. Pfizer’s vaccine protects 90% against infection, but this rate drops to 47% only after five months. On the other hand, the effectiveness against the risk of hospitalization is maintained at least six months at 93%.