HEALTH As a ninth wave of Covid is underway, the government is increasing prevention messages
Public Health France encourages the French to update their anti-Covid vaccination — SYSPEO/SIPA
“Solemn Appeal” to vaccination and wearing a mask. While a ninth wave of Covid-19 – which is added to the epidemics of influenza and bronchiolitis – is sweeping over France in a certain indifference, the health authorities and the government are multiplying prevention messages. Sunday on BFMTV, the Minister of Health, François Braun, launched a “solemn appeal” to encourage the most vulnerable to to get vaccinated. “It’s still totally absurd, we have the means to protect ourselves and the French people do not get vaccinated,” he lamented. And to remember: “The target people are the same as for the flu and the Covid.”
It echoed the terms of the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, who called Tuesday to the respect of barrier gestures, to the approach of the end-of-year celebrations, a period of family gatherings conducive to the transmission of viruses. “The pace picked up a bit; over the past week: among those over 80, around 20% have received a fourth dose, 35-40% for those aged 60-80 but “this is largely insufficient,” he said.
The delicate question of wearing a mask in transport
Before him, Brigitte Autran, president of the Committee; monitoring and anticipation of health risks (Covars) which replaced the Scientific Council, was moved on Sunday from the “disappointing” vaccination against Covid-19. “We have the same problem with the flu: there is a lower level of vaccination this year, compared to previous years. The French really need to protect themselves,” the scientist in an interview with Sunday newspaper (JDD). According to the latest figures, about five million French people have been vaccinated against the flu, 13% less than last year.
Another aspect in the fight against the Covid, the delicate question of wearing a mask in certain places such as public transport arises at the moment. new to the executive. The government only wants to be an incentive, but caregivers and epidemiologists are urging it to harden its position by imposing it. François Braun, who didn’t wear one on the set of BFMTV – because “we are not in an enclosed, promiscuous place” that he was “not in favor of coercion.” But if the numbers continue to rise and a decision has to be made on an obligation, “my arm won’t shake,” he said.
What criteria could decide him to take such a step? “The saturation of hospitals or the evolution of the flu epidemic” in particular, replied the Minister of Health. The Covars will give “a full review” on the epidemic situation in the weekend or the beginning of the next. An opinion that the government may well decide to follow.