Vaccination against the coronavirus has greatly contributed to reducing the hospitalizations of the most fragile French people, in particular the elderly,
Public Health France revealed in a study published on Tuesday.
Started in December 2020, the coronavirus vaccine campaign first targeted populations at risk. Currently, nearly 75% of the French population now has a full vaccination schedule, the health agency added.
A visible impact especially during the fourth wave
However, the study of Public Health France confirms that the vaccination had “a significant impact on the epidemic, in particular for those eligible in priority”. Thus, from the 3rd epidemic wave (March to May 2021), the weekly numbers of cases and deaths linked to Covid-19 decreased by nearly 90% for residents in nursing homes, in comparison with the second wave (fall 2020 ). Among all over 75s, the weekly number of hospitalizations has fallen by 29%.
The impact was even more noticeable during the 4th wave (from mid-July to mid-October 2021). The average weekly numbers of cases and deaths were reduced by 94 and 96% for residents in nursing homes compared to the second wave. In both cases, the decline is 84% for people aged 75 and over. In the other age groups, hospitalizations were reduced by 68% and deaths by 54% among those aged 50 to 64. Hospitalizations fell 24% among those aged 18 to 49.
Strategy efficiency
The agency recognizes that the interpretation of the part attributable to vaccination of the changes observed is complex because, she stresses, it is necessary to take into account other elements concomitant with the progression of vaccination (hygiene measures, social distancing…).
But since these prevention measures have been decreasing since last May, the improvements in terms of impact on the epidemic observed during the fourth wave cannot be attributed to them. “These results underline the effectiveness of the rapid introduction strategy. vaccination by targeting as a priority the people most at risk, ”she concludes.