We, doctors, researchers and medical learned societies, are very concerned by the abuses observed on social networks and in certain mass media, which share and disseminate false scientific and medical information. We would like to reaffirm our unwavering support for health professionals who strive to provide the general public with clear and fair information, based on scientific data.
Recently, we heard that anti-Covid vaccines would be ineffective, or, worse, responsible for cancers or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, while no epidemiological data reports any increase in these diseases linked to vaccination. Others do not hesitate to assert that anti-Covid vaccines are responsible for strokes or myocardial infarction, in contradiction with several epidemiological studies, including two French studies carried out by Epi-Phare, studies which do not found no link between these pathologies and mRNA vaccines. Furthermore, no credible molecular biology data corroborates the idea of integration of vaccine DNA strands into the human genome from messenger RNA vaccines.
These disturbing statements highlight the desire of some to sow confusion and fear among the general public with unsubstantiated information. It is essential to remember that medical claims must be based on solid scientific data. The adverse effects of vaccines are mainly observed in the days following the injections, at the latest a few weeks later. Thus, following the observation of serious thromboses in young subjects with one of the anti-Covid vaccines using a viral vector, its use was suspended, without anything ever being hidden from the public. These cases nevertheless remained very rare, and illustrate the fact that the national and international pharmacovigilance system worked perfectly.
We deplore that certain individuals and media take advantage of the gullibility of a part of the population, thus contributing to endangering their health. In this context, it is more imperative than ever to support the legislation on sectarian abuses currently being revised in the National Assembly, more precisely by introducing sanctions for those who encourage people to abandon or denigrate recognized medical treatment. Similarly, Article 27 of the Freedom of the Press Act of 1881 regarding the publication, dissemination or reproduction of false news, which applies in cases of disturbing the public peace, should also concern cases of endangering public health.
Faced with medical disinformation relayed by opportunists, who most often have something to sell, we call for stricter regulation of information networks to protect citizens. We reaffirm our support for vaccination, to prevent rather than cure. We affirm the primacy of the illumination of scientific demonstration. We reaffirm our total medical commitment against diseases. It is time to choose the side of health against all forms of obscurantism.
*List of signatories:
Dominique Deplanque, president of the French Society of Pharmacology and Therapeutics; Manuel Rodrigues, president of the French Cancer Society; Mathieu Molimard, honorary president of the National College of Medical Pharmacology; Jerome Barrier, member of the scientific council of the French Cancer Society; Remi Solomon, president of the National Conference of CME Presidents of CHU; Alan Fischer, president of the Academy of Sciences; Bernard Castan, president of the French-language Society of Infectious Pathology; Olivier Saint-Lary, president of the National College of Teaching Generalists; Christopher Leclercq, president of the French Society of Cardiology; David Laharie, Secretary General of the French National Society of Gastroenterology; Luc Mouthon, president of the French National Society of Internal Medicine; Nathalie Rooms, president of the French Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology; Christian ChabannonPresident of the Conference of CME Presidents of CLCC ; Francis Vrtovsnik, president of the French-speaking Society of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation; Virginia Gandemer, President of the French Society for the Fight against Childhood and Adolescent Cancers and Leukemias; Jean-Marc Classe, president of the French-speaking Society of Oncological Surgery; Jean-Yves BlayPresident of Unicancer; Véronique Vendrely, president of the French Society of Oncological Radiotherapy; Didier Mayeur, president of the French-speaking Association for Oncological Supportive Care; Annie-Pierre Jonville-Bera, president of the Network of regional pharmacovigilance centers; Joelle Micallef, president of the Network of evaluation and information centers on drug dependence-addictovigilance; Claudia Lefeuvre, Collective of CME presidents of Unicancer; Jerome Marty, president of the French Union for Free Medicine – union; Franck Devulder, president of the Confederation of French Medical Unions; Agnes Giannotti, President of the French Federation of General Practitioners; Melanie Rica, president of Doctors for Tomorrow; Patricia Lefébure, president of the Federation of Doctors of France; Patrick Gasser, president of the Avenir spé trade union – the Bloc; Patrick Pelloux, president of the Association of Emergency Physicians of France; Jérémy Darenne, president of the National Association of Medical Students of France; Raphaël Dachicourt, president of the Autonomous Group of young established and replacement general practitioners; Florie Sullerot, president of the independent national inter-union representative of general medicine interns.