4TH DOSE. With the seventh wave of Covid-19, a fourth dose of coronavirus vaccine is recommended for part of the population. Who is concerned ? Are we heading towards the return of the vaccine pass?
[Mis à jour le 8 juillet 2022 à 14h34] The conclusion is clear. The seventh wave of coronavirus decided to put his suitcases in France for the summer holidays. Faced with a growing number of new daily cases, the authorities are sounding the alarm and calling on the French to resume good habits in terms of barrier gestures. But if wearing a mask can be effective, vaccination remains essential. In fact, the injection of a fourth dose is now recommended for a certain part of the population. On its website, the government indicates people “over the age of 60, with or without comorbidity and immunocompromised” are eligible for a second booster shot, i.e. a fourth dose of vaccine.
While going on vacation disrupts the schedules of vaccination, Public Health France believes that “vaccination coverage for booster doses remains significantly insufficient”. For its part, the World Health Organization (WHO), through the voice of its Director for Europe, Hans Kluge, has launched an appeal to European States, inviting them to increase their level of vaccination: “High immunity in the population and the choices made to reduce the risk for the elderly will be the keys to preventing additional mortality this summer.”
But at the dawn of the summer holidays, franceinfo notes, Friday July 8, that obtaining an appointment is, in certain departments, now a feat. In the short term, it is not uncommon to no longer have any vaccination slots available. If in large cities or in departments, such as Seine-Maritime, Pas-de-Calais, Var or Haute-Corse, it is not complicated to make an appointment, it is another pair of sleeve in the Drôme, the Tarn, the Landes or even the Haute-Savoie and the Côtes-d’Armor. In particular, the closure of vaccination centers and the departure on vacation of certain pharmacists and doctors, explains franceinfo.
What is the 4e dose of vaccine against Covid-19?
1st, 2e3e4e, booster dose… So many terms that are often mentioned when it comes to vaccination against Covid. But how to find your way there without getting lost? The 1st and the 2e dose were the starting point of the vaccination campaign, making it possible to complete its initial vaccination schedule. Then, for the most fragile and oldest people, a 3ethen a 4e dose of vaccine can be injected into them. On this subject, we also speak of 1st and 2e booster dose.
A 4e dose of vaccine against Covid-19, for whom?
The possibility of being administered a 4e dose of vaccine against Covid-19 dates back to early January, before being extended in mid-March. At this stage, this 2e recall is open to immunocompromised people, their relatives, and to those aged 60 and over since April 7th. However, it is necessary to respect a delay since its last injection before being able to claim to receive a new dose of vaccine: three months for immunocompromised people and those aged 80 and over; six months for people aged 60 to 79. In addition to older sections of the population, there are immunocompromised persons affected by the 4th dose, such as solid organ transplant recipients, recent bone marrowpatients on dialysis, patients with autoimmune diseases undergoing aggressive immunosuppressive treatment such as anti-CD20 or anti-metabolites, or patients with rare forms of primary immunodeficiency.
For the time being, the 4th dose of vaccine against Covid is not compulsory. But highly recommended for these populations. Jean-François Delfraissy, president of the Scientific Council, called on people over 60 and people with several risk factors to “get vaccinated with the 4e dose now without waiting for September/October”. “Because these vaccines exist, are effective against the BA.5 variant in severe forms”, he insisted. For epidemiologist Antoine Flahaut, there is no moreover “no reason to procrastinate to receive your vaccine if you are eligible for a booster” which specified to our colleagues from the HuffPost that there is “strong scientific data today showing that hospitalizations for severe forms of Covid-19 as well as mortality by Covid-19 are largely prevented by complete vaccination regimens (3 doses) associated with a second booster in the most vulnerable people”. Alain Fischer, the president of the council of orientation of the vaccine strategy, ensured that this recall represented “no danger”, trying to reassure the population on this vaccine “safe” and in his eyes necessary to “catch up with the level of protection obtained after the first reminder in terms of protection against infection but especially against serious forms” (comments made on France 2 at the end of June).
A 4e Will the dose of vaccine against Covid-19 be generalized?
This is the big question. The 4th dose allowing the increase in the rate of neutralizing antibodies, it allows a reinforcement of the immunity which can prove to be necessary for the elderly and more fragile for whom the protection guaranteed by the vaccine decreases after six months, against twelve months for the general population. While in its vaccination strategy, the government has gradually opened up access to vaccines by age group, will it be the same with the 4e dose (2e booster dose)? “We will probably come there” replied Brigitte Bourguignon on June 27, without however, at this stage, mentioning a precise timetable, criteria or even constraints on this subject. Remember that in January, the validity of the vaccination pass was conditional on the injection of a booster dose.