How young people became supportive of the vaccine

This Thursday, Emmanuel Macron announced the opening of vaccination to all from May 12 when there will be doses available for more than 24 hours. A choice motivated both by the desire not to lose doses, to accelerate vaccination even more, but also by the growing pressure from some of the under-50s, for the moment not eligible (except in cases of comorbidity) and who increasingly demand access to doses of vaccine against the coronavirus.

This pressure from young people is quite recent. For the youngest adults, membership has even become the majority only last month. According to
The CoviPrev Inquiry of Public Health France, between March and April, the proportion of 18-24 year olds wishing to be vaccinated rose from 36 to 55%. In December 2020, they were only 26% of this age group to want to be vaccinated, according to an Odoxa survey. Far from the senior population, the over 65s being 58% in favor of vaccination in December, and 77% in April. How to explain such a rise of youth?

The wind rises, it’s time to live

For doctor Jérôme Marty, no need to look very far for an explanation: “Young people want to get out, find the life they used to be, stop wearing a mask, and they have understood that vaccination was the best way to get there. the. “If young people are the least likely to be affected by serious forms or death of the coronavirus, their lives are nevertheless impacted by the pandemic and especially by its consequences: curfew, closure of bars and restaurants, classes or work in distancing, confinement.

According to a report from Public Health France from April 2021, anxiety states with suicidal thoughts mainly affect 18-24 year olds and people living in too small or overcrowded housing, and anxiety and depressive states mainly affect 25-34 year olds. . “Young people are the ones who have the most social interactions in normal times, it is logical that they do everything to regain their life,” says Jérôme Marty.

In May, get vaccinated

Okay, but why such a growth in membership in recent weeks? Several elements can explain it. First, the third confinement and more generally the deterioration of the situation in March, after a more or less stable plateau in January and February. “It showed that without vaccination, it would be difficult to get by,” points out the doctor. Also, the deconfinements in highly vaccinated countries, such as the United Kingdom or Israel, and the massively relayed videos of beers on the terrace or of the return to life before could have had a strong incentive value.

Then, the confirmation of the Health Pass necessary in France for certain events could have contributed to this strong adhesion, according to the doctor and specialist in Public Health Hélène Rossinot: “Young people, with a desire to travel, but also to participate in events with many people saw it as a good reason to get vaccinated. “Between two Pfizer injections or having your nose cleaned before each plane flight or concert, the choice seems to have been made.

Frustration and envy

March-April, where the largest increase in membership among young people was observed, also marks the massive acceleration of vaccination in France. And by dint of seeing everyone get vaccinated except them, the young people may have had some frustration. Hélène Rossinot always: “When you are excluded for a long time from something, you sometimes want it even more, especially when things are unlocked for everyone else. »A desire that joins the snowball effect observed in all age groups: the more people we vaccinate, the more people want to be vaccinated. Thus, of the entire French adult population, 70% of people had or wanted to be vaccinated in April, against 41% in February.

The vaccine drive of young people is therefore mainly motivated by personal and self-centered reasons, far from solidarity with the oldest or from fear for their health. “I am not sure that this increase is really people who have suddenly become aware of their vulnerability or the importance of their own vaccination for the collective”, confirms Hélène Rossinot.

Vaccination essential, whatever the reason

So what? She would be tempted to say. It does not suffer from any importance. “Honestly, it doesn’t matter,” continues the doctor. What matters is that young people get vaccinated. Whatever the reason, immunizing young people is essential for the country. According to the Institut Pasteur, to achieve collective immunity against new variants, up to 90% of the vaccinated adult population would be required, a ratio that is impossible without the participation of young people. In addition, according to Public Health France, the highest incidence by age group has (almost) always been 15-44 years, stack the category concerned.

However, since the vaccine decreases viral contagion in people, vaccinating this age group would greatly reduce viral circulation. The less the virus circulates, the less risk there is of the appearance of variants, but also of Covid-long or patients, the better. The vaccine needs young people to work. Young people need the vaccine to get their life back. Simple exchange of good process.