Suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine
Article by France Bleu, published by Bastien Munch
After being suspended as a precaution for 3 days in France, the vaccine from the AstraZeneca laboratory has been authorized again since Friday. But confidence in this vaccine has eroded among the French, which does not surprise Hervé Fleury, virologist and professor at the University of Bordeaux.
"I think we worried about not much," said Hervé Fleury, virologist and professor emeritus at CNRS and at the University of Bordeaux, guest of France Bleu Gironde on Monday March 22. After several cases of thrombosis in adults vaccinated in Europe, the French government suspended the vaccine from the AstraZeneca laboratory for three days last week. Even if it is back on the market since Friday, 61% of French people now believe that it is not sure, concludes a Yougov survey published on Monday. “It doesn't surprise me,” explains Hervé Fleury. "Perhaps there was over-caution. Of the 11 million people vaccinated in the UK, there were no more serious complications than the usual background noise. I regret this incident of course."
Nevertheless, the Haute Autorité de Santé now recommends that it be administered only to French people over 55 years of age. "This is because they spotted these thromboses in subjects under the age of 55", explains the Bordeaux virologist. "There have been three cases detected in France, it does not make much. I just hope that it does not hide the fact that we are in difficulty of supplying these vaccines ..." The professor emeritus at the university of Bordeaux now calls for vaccination with all laboratories. "Even if it means going to negotiate with Russia to have Sputnik V, which seems excellent," says Hervé Fleury. "I believe that we must do everything possible, we will only get out of the situation if we vaccinate the maximum of the population." "The delay accumulated over these three days can be made up", wants to believe the virologist. “As soon as the French have confidence again, they will come to be vaccinated. But now, we have to change the pace. I think we have to move to vaccinodromes, we must also call on the army. Here we already have an army hospital, Robert-Picqué, which vaccinates, so I believe that we must open as many large premises as possible to vaccinate from the moment we are supplied."
Maybe different vaccines over time
Hervé Fleury also wants to reassure about the effectiveness of vaccines on Covid-19 variants. "Technically, Pfizer and Moderna are effective on all variants, including the South African, but with a slightly lower effectiveness for the latter. AstraZeneca is effective on the English variant but less on the South African variant. But we can all the same, go get vaccinated with him since it will be effective against the strains which circulate mainly in France. " The professor emeritus at the CNRS affirms that two American companies are in the process of "synthesizing a vaccine adapted to the South African variant". "I think that we will see an adaptation of the vaccines over time. Maybe we will have boosters in 2022 with slightly different vaccines and adapted to variant strains," he explains. Hervé Fleury also says he is confident to achieve the objective set by Prime Minister Jean Castex, namely to have vaccinated 10 million people before mid-April. "If we have supplies and if the European Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton makes Europe and the laboratories keep their commitments, we could arrive at this figure. It all depends on the vaccines and their arrival on the territory. , I'm quite optimistic because vaccinodromes are relatively easy to get started."
