top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

French Sanofi Covid-19 vaccine ‘not ready for a few months’

People should get vaccinated now, rather than wait says the president of the pharmaceutical company 

Olivier Bogillot, president of Sanofi, said people should use existing vaccines in a LinkedIn post Pic: Syda Productions / Shutterstock

The Sanofi Covid-19 vaccine will not be ready for a few months and people should use available vaccines now rather than wait, the president of the pharmaceutical company has said.

In a LinkedIn post, Olivier Bogillot wrote: “Don’t wait to get vaccinated!

“I have heard some people say they would rather wait and get the Sanofi vaccine. I thank them for their trust in Sanofi, but our vaccine will not be ready for a few months. 

Waiting will only increase the risk and prolong the circulation of the virus.”

Last month Mr Bogillot told Europe 1 that Sanofi has been slower than other pharmaceutical companies to release a Covid-19 vaccine due to the kind of vaccine the laboratory has chosen to produce.

As well as an RNA messenger vaccine (using the same technology as the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines), Sanofi is also producing a recombinant protein vaccine, using the same technology as one of its existing flu vaccines.

Mr Bogillot said: “We knew that this would take longer than an RNA messenger vaccine or an Adenovirus vaccine [such as AstraZeneca] but we took it on because we said, if the two other kinds do not work, maybe ours will.”

He said it was a “very good thing” that different producers were testing different technologies in their vaccines as it would ultimately lead to patients getting the most effective vaccine against the virus.

 Mr Bogillot said the vaccines currently available in France were “safe and effective”. 

 The vast majority of vaccines delivered in France so far have been Pfizer-BioNTech, with more than 61.4million doses administered, figures from VaccinTracker show.

 This is followed by AstraZeneca (7.7million), Moderna (7.6million) and Johnson & Johnson (918,459).

 He went on to say that vaccines “save lives, reduce serious consequences from Covid-19 and slow circulation of the virus.

“They also protect hospitals from a preventable new wave of patients, allowing them to concentrate on patients who do not have Covid and need care.

“The coming weeks will define what happens during la rentrée in September. We all want to end the health crisis, so I say to you, don’t wait. Get vaccinated now!”.

As of August 8, 44,661,815 people in France have received a first dose of the vaccine (equivalent to 66.6% of the population).

Of these, 37,241,404 (55.5%) are fully vaccinated.

Related stories

French-made Sanofi Covid vaccine moves a step closer to use in EU

Covid France: Pressure mounts on hospitals; most patients unvaccinated

‘Make Covid-19 vaccine mandatory for all’: French hospital union boss

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Healthcare in France*
Featured Help Guide
- Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors.
Get news, views and information from France