A delay of three weeks between two Covid vaccines again possible – Eric Dessons / JDD / SIPA
Boost in the vaccination campaign. The Ministry of Health decided on Tuesday to relax the rules concerning “the difference between two doses of messenger RNA”. The deadlines had already been extended recently from a minimum of 35 to 49 days, and the gap will be “further reduced within the limit of 21 days” provided for by the recommendations of the laboratories that produce these anti-Covid-19 vaccines, a we told the ministry during a weekly press briefing.
The objective is to “go as quickly as possible in the first injections” and “not to slow down access to the first dose because of the holidays”, it was stressed. The ministry also wants to speed up the movement on second injections to “protect the population as best as possible”, in particular from variants such as the Delta (previously called Indian). As for vacation spots, getting vaccinated on site will not “be able to be the rule” but there may be “exceptions” and a “safety net” will be organized in this direction.
“80% of French people want to be vaccinated”
The ministry did not give objectives for the number of vaccinated, emphasizing wanting to go “as far as possible” and achieve, for example at least 90% of vaccinated among the oldest (against a rate a little over 80 % of first-time vaccines currently for those over 75 years old) since their vaccine adherence rate is over 90%.
Questioned at the National Assembly, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran underlined the sharp increase in vaccine intentions. “In January, we had only 50% of French people who intended to be vaccinated, with fears relating especially to messenger RNA vaccines, Pfizer in the first place,” he said. Today, we have “80% of French people who want to be vaccinated, which makes France one of the top countries in the rankings and messenger RNA vaccines, in particular Pfizer, have raised all fears”, he added.
“Lots of vaccines in June”
France will receive “a lot of vaccines in June”, he noted, deeming “important that many French people make appointments”, while some centers are open in the evenings and weekends to facilitate the vaccination. According to the Ministry of the Economy, a total of 23 million doses of vaccines, mainly Pfizer and Moderna, will be delivered in June, then the same quantity in July and “at least as many in August”.
“Manufacturers are increasing capacity and there is a constant increase” in the quantities delivered, the same source said, recalling that the volume had been 12.5 million in April and then 15.5 in May.