A new variant of the COVVI-19, which is a derivative of omicron, could become dominant in France if the vaccination coverage of fragile audiences is not quickly improved, alerted the National Academy of Medicine in a statement on Wednesday, June 25.
The World Health Organization (WHO) placed on May 23 the variant NB.1.8.1, a derivative of omicron, on the list of variants of the COVVI-19 under surveillance. If he “does not seem to determine more severe clinical forms than other variants in circulation”NB.1.8.1 a “aroused an important epidemic rebound in Asia”said the National Academy of Medicine on Wednesday June 25, specifying that its prevalence was increasing in North America and several European countries.
The risk of epidemic recovery from COVID-19 this summer in France is real. To avoid an increase in cases and, above all, of serious contamination, the National Academy of Medicine calls for better vaccination coverage, especially for fragile audiences, such as the elderly or immunocompromised.
Very insufficient vaccination coverage
“Vaccination is an essential measure”insisted the Academy of Medicine in its press release, which recalls that WHO has confirmed the effectiveness of vaccines against this new variant. Faced with the low vaccine coverage, which was only 21.7 % in people aged 65 in February, and due to the low membership of the vaccination campaign in the spring for fragile people, a new call to be vaccinated was launched.
For the Academy of Medicine, it is urgent to vaccinate “The set of people identified at very high risk of serious forms”like people over 80 or immunocompromised, whether they received a dose or not last fall. You also have to vaccinate “All eligible people for annual vaccination”that is to say those aged 65 and over, individuals with comorbidities and pregnant women, who have not received a dose since the end of 2024.
Posted on June 26 at 9:14 am, Maeliss Innocenti, 6medias
