Covid France: Who should get a third booster vaccination in autumn?

President Emmanuel Macron announced last night (July 12) that booster vaccines would be given to around 1.7million people in France from September.

Third doses of Covid vaccines will be offered to the most vulnerable in France who were first vaccinated in January and February this year.

These include patients in elderly care homes, people aged over 75, and people with conditions that made them extremely vulnerable to the virus.

Staff aged over 50 in hospitals and working with those most vulnerable to the virus will also be eligible.

In the first two months of 2021, almost 1.7million people were fully vaccinated, and 3.1million first doses were given in France.

President Macron said: “I want to speak to those who were vaccinated first, meaning in January and February, who will soon see their rate of antibodies drop and their immunity decrease.

“I want to reassure them, from September, a campaign for booster shots will be in place so that you can have a new injection.”

Appointments for third shots will be available from the end of August.

Since April the Pfizer and Moderna laboratories have said third doses may be necessary in order to maintain high levels of antibodies among fully vaccinated people.

The World Health Organisation does not see third doses as an urgent priority.

Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said vaccination gives “durable immunity against Covid 19” and that the priority should be to “vaccinate those who have not yet received a first dose”.

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