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The Living Force
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The government follows the opinion of the HAS and says no to the reinstatement of non-vaccinated caregivers
Health Minister François Braun announced on 22 July that the government remained opposed to the reinstatement of unvaccinated Covid caregivers in health establishments, thus following the opinion of the French National Authority for Health (HAS), but also of the Academy of Medicine and the Scientific Council. During a visit to Seine-et-Marne, he said that he would meet "at the beginning of next week with the trade unions to explain the situation to them".
The Senate had opened the door to the reinstatement of unvaccinated healthcare workers in the framework of the bill devoted to the fight against Covid and the Joint Committee was waiting for the green light from the High Authority for Health on this point. In its opinion of 21 July, following a referral from the Minister of Health, the authority ruled in favour of maintaining the vaccination requirement for staff working in health and medico-social establishments.
"In the context of a seventh wave, in view of the effectiveness of the vaccines and the uncertainties concerning the continuation of the epidemic, the HAS considers that the data are not such as to call into question this vaccination obligation today", writes the High Authority.
The booster dose, effective against severe forms
The HAS examined the issue of compulsory vaccination for health professionals last July. At the time, it considered this measure "justified in view of the issues at stake". To update this first opinion, the HAS took into account various elements, such as the current context, marked by the predominance of Omicron sublineage BA.5. Data from Santé publique France show a slowdown in the circulation of the virus, but indicators remain at a very high level and there has been an increase in deaths.
The High Authority also took into account the efficacy and safety data of the booster dose. Recent data from Epi-Phare and the Directorate for Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (Drees) on the three-dose mRNA vaccine regimen (primary vaccination and first booster dose) have shown "an increase in protection against infections provided by the booster dose", reports the HAS. Vaccine protection is 45-55% against symptomatic infections and around 80% against severe forms within three months of the injection of this dose. Efficacy is maintained at high levels for up to six months against severe forms.
"The vaccine efficacy against BA.4 and BA.5 variants is probably comparable to that previously observed against BA.1 and BA.2 variants (preliminary data from the United Kingdom published by the UKHSA)," the HAS estimates.
Protecting the most vulnerable
The HAS also points out that the occurrence of serious adverse events after vaccination against Covid is "extremely low", even though more than 30 million booster doses have already been administered. The adverse events reported after the booster are similar to those reported after primary vaccination.
"In view of the dynamic epidemic context, the uncertainties about the evolution of the epidemic in the coming months and the effectiveness of a complete vaccination scheme in reducing the risk of being infected and transmitting the disease, the HAS considers that the data are not such as to call into question the vaccination obligation for staff in the health and medico-social sectors, which contributes to a better protection of the people being cared for or accompanied, first and foremost those who are the most vulnerable", concludes the HAS.
The Senate had opened the door to the reinstatement of unvaccinated healthcare workers in the framework of the bill devoted to the fight against Covid and the Joint Committee was waiting for the green light from the High Authority for Health on this point. In its opinion of 21 July, following a referral from the Minister of Health, the authority ruled in favour of maintaining the vaccination requirement for staff working in health and medico-social establishments.
"In the context of a seventh wave, in view of the effectiveness of the vaccines and the uncertainties concerning the continuation of the epidemic, the HAS considers that the data are not such as to call into question this vaccination obligation today", writes the High Authority.
The booster dose, effective against severe forms
The HAS examined the issue of compulsory vaccination for health professionals last July. At the time, it considered this measure "justified in view of the issues at stake". To update this first opinion, the HAS took into account various elements, such as the current context, marked by the predominance of Omicron sublineage BA.5. Data from Santé publique France show a slowdown in the circulation of the virus, but indicators remain at a very high level and there has been an increase in deaths.
The High Authority also took into account the efficacy and safety data of the booster dose. Recent data from Epi-Phare and the Directorate for Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (Drees) on the three-dose mRNA vaccine regimen (primary vaccination and first booster dose) have shown "an increase in protection against infections provided by the booster dose", reports the HAS. Vaccine protection is 45-55% against symptomatic infections and around 80% against severe forms within three months of the injection of this dose. Efficacy is maintained at high levels for up to six months against severe forms.
"The vaccine efficacy against BA.4 and BA.5 variants is probably comparable to that previously observed against BA.1 and BA.2 variants (preliminary data from the United Kingdom published by the UKHSA)," the HAS estimates.
Protecting the most vulnerable
The HAS also points out that the occurrence of serious adverse events after vaccination against Covid is "extremely low", even though more than 30 million booster doses have already been administered. The adverse events reported after the booster are similar to those reported after primary vaccination.
"In view of the dynamic epidemic context, the uncertainties about the evolution of the epidemic in the coming months and the effectiveness of a complete vaccination scheme in reducing the risk of being infected and transmitting the disease, the HAS considers that the data are not such as to call into question the vaccination obligation for staff in the health and medico-social sectors, which contributes to a better protection of the people being cared for or accompanied, first and foremost those who are the most vulnerable", concludes the HAS.
Même si au final, on décidait en haut lieu d'intégrer ces soignants non vaccinés, je ne saurais dire s'ils accepteraient de tourner la page et de retravailler à nouveau pour une médecine qui a perdu son sens humain.
Even if, in the end, it was decided in high places to integrate these unvaccinated caregivers, I cannot say whether they would be willing to turn the page and work again for a medicine that has lost its human meaning.
