Health authorities in France today recommended that the booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine be given at the age of 18, five months after full vaccination, in an opinion released shortly before new government announcements.
This recommendation probably foretells what will be announced by the French Minister of Health Olivier Veran at 13:30 (Greek time), as France is affected by a fifth wave of the epidemic.
In an opinion issued just six days earlier on Friday, the Supreme Health Authority (HAS) suggested that the booster dose be given from the age of 40, six months after the last injection.
But she decided to reduce those deadlines because the “epidemic resurgence” is “even stronger than expected”, she explained in her new opinion.
“He believes that the worrying epidemic context justifies an acceleration of the vaccination campaign by reducing the deadline between the first full vaccination and the booster dose,” said HAS, whose role is to inspire government policy on these issues.
“It is therefore recommended that a booster dose be given from 5 months after the first full vaccination and that the booster dose campaign be extended to people 18 years of age and older.”
HAS relies mainly on projections by the Pasteur Institute, which calculate the reduction in the peak of hospitalizations, if the booster dose is given from the age of 18 years.
According to HAS, this reduction is 39% if the booster dose is given 6 months after the last injection, and goes to 50% if the booster dose is given at 5 months.
HAS assures that this strategy is confirmed by “real-life studies conducted in Israel”.
In addition to the booster dose, “it is crucial to continue vaccination efforts for people who have not yet been vaccinated,” HAS said.
It also insists on “strengthening the implementation of personal protection measures” in order to “protect the health care system and avoid restrictive measures”.
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