Faced with the triple epidemic raging in France and prevention messages that are struggling to pass, the government solemnly called on the French on Friday to “leapfrog” before the end of year celebrations, enjoining them to be vaccinated and put the mask back on transport.
While France, like neighboring countries, is suffering from a triple epidemic with the juxtaposition of Covid-19, influenza and bronchiolitis, the Minister of Health François Braun spoke of a “serious situation” during a conference of press organized at the end of the day. However, the prevention messages “have gone less well, have been less well relayed” for a few weeks, he regretted.
Only “2.8 million people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 since the beginning of October, it is much less than our European neighbors”, underlined François Braun, referring specifically to the ongoing recall campaign. On the flu side, “9.9 million vaccines were sold in pharmacies”, a drop of 5% compared to 2021. As a result, “the French are less well protected this year”, “I call solemnly to a burst of vaccination, ”he hammered.
Accelerate the vaccination of nursing home residents
This year’s flu vaccine “particularly protects” against the circulating strain, supported the president of Covars (former scientific council), Brigitte Autran. The Minister of Health also called “solemnly on the responsibility” of the directors of Ehpad to accelerate the vaccination against Covid-19 of residents, of whom only a fifth are vaccinated.
“The rate of protection against Covid is too low in nursing homes, as in the general population, around 21% and 23% for those over 80,” said Minister of Solidarity Jean-Christophe Combe. Directors can make wearing a mask compulsory in nursing homes, especially in the event of a cluster, he added. “Faced with this triple epidemic, we need a triple boost: vaccination, barrier gestures, and support for committed professionals”, he underlined.
The importance of these barrier gestures
Noting that the caregivers had been applauded every day by the French during the first wave of Covid-19, François Braun launched: “Tonight, I ask you to help them, by vaccinating yourself and respecting barrier gestures”. The minister also insisted on the importance of these barrier gestures: washing your hands, ventilating regularly, wearing a mask in closed places. “In public transport, in trains,” he pleaded.
However, François Braun ruled out making the mask compulsory, as many caregivers claim: “There are simple gestures that do not need a text”.
In the morning, the minister had already argued, on BFMTV and RMC, that everyone could “get vaccinated” with an anti-Covid booster, while the communication on the booster vaccination this fall was criticized for its confusion. The “most fragile” remain the first targeted, “but everyone can be vaccinated”, repeated François Braun, thus judging “completely normal” to be vaccinated “if you go to see your elderly parents during the holidays” .