The resurgence of Covid-19 cases, noticeable in France for several weeks, is not marked enough to bring forward the launch of the vaccination campaign planned for mid-October, health authorities judged on Tuesday, calling for avoiding "panic" in the face of a new variant.
"There is nothing abnormal, we are rather lower than what we observed at the same time last year," explained Caroline Semaille, Director General of Public Health France, during a video conference dedicated to measures to combat autumn-winter respiratory epidemics such as influenza, Covid and bronchiolitis.
For several weeks, Covid has been showing signs of resurgence in France, with an increase in consultations and a higher presence of the virus in wastewater. But the data does not appear to indicate a major outbreak.
“In the wastewater system, the situation is starting to stabilize,” reported Ms. Semaille, noting, however, that they are beginning to “see slightly more visits to the emergency room and possibly hospitalizations.” A new weekly report will be released this Wednesday.
The vaccination campaign against this disease will begin as planned on October 14, so as to be coupled with that against the flu, the health authorities believing that there is no urgency to accelerate the fight against Covid.
"We did not have the epidemiological arguments to change this launch date of October 14," assured Didier Lepelletier, Director General of Health, in charge of vaccination campaigns.
Mr. Lepelletier also urged people not to worry about the emergence since this summer of a variant, dubbed XFG and the latest iteration of the Omicron family. Sometimes nicknamed "Frankenstein," particularly on social media, it appears potentially more contagious but not more dangerous at this stage.
"No need to panic, the available vaccine is effective against this strain (and) there will be no immune escape linked to this particular strain," said the Director General of Health.
Representatives from Public Health France and the Ministry of Health strongly encouraged people to get vaccinated against both Covid and the flu, which was particularly virulent last season with more than 17,000 estimated deaths.
Approximately 19 million people are considered at risk of developing severe forms of these two respiratory illnesses, particularly those over 65, many people with chronic illnesses, and pregnant women, and are eligible for a free flu vaccine. The Covid-19 vaccine is fully reimbursed for all French citizens.
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