Covid cases rise in France - doctors’ union calls for early vaccination

The government has refused demands from a French doctor’s union to bring forward the start date of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign as cases in the country begin to rise.

Jérôme Marty, a GP in Villemur-sur-Tarn in southern France and president of the UFML doctors’ union, told Franceinfo that he was “dismayed” by the French government’s decision to begin the autumn vaccination campaign on October 13.

For its part, the government is holding firm, with the office of Health Minister Stéphanie Rist insisting that “indicators do not show a situation justifying the early launch of the campaign.” 

The doctors’ union’s urgency is reflected in the latest figures, compiled using data from the Réseau Sentinelles and other networks monitored by public health body Santé publique France, showing a rise in Covid-19 infections during the week of September 21-27.

The estimated number of people affected with Covid that consult GPs for acute respiratory infections increased to 13 cases per 100,000 people, compared with nine the previous weeks. This represents 8,806 new cases.

In general, the overall cases of acute respiratory infections witnessed by GPs rose from 103 to 151 cases per 100,000 people in one week, with Covid being one of the viruses detected.

Rhinoviruses, the common viral type that causes colds, were more frequent, found in 40% of samples, compared with 10% for Covid.

Emergency visits for suspected Covid among people aged 15 and over also rose by 22%, an increase of 114 visits.

However, hospital admissions following emergency visits remained stable and overall activity remains at a low level.

"As always, it's not the patient's interest that counts, but that of the system," said Dr Marty, who said he had been dealing with a steady stream of Covid patients over the last several weeks. 

"There is no public health campaign, people are not reminded to wear a mask when they have symptoms... We are lagging behind!"

The call to bring the vaccination campaign forward also reflects concerns around its delayed effects, with the Covid vaccine taking around one to two weeks to provide protection.

Syringe shortage fears

At the same time, other health professionals have raised concerns about the availability of the equipment needed to administer the vaccines. 

In an open letter to Ms Rist, the Fédération des syndicats pharmaceutiques de France (FSPF) and Union des syndicats de pharmaciens d’officine (USPO) warned about the issue ahead of the campaign.

As the vaccines are supplied in multidose vials, they require suitable syringes and needles for administration which are no longer distributed by the state and must be purchased by the pharmacists. 

“The FSPF and the USPO therefore request a solution to guarantee both the availability of sufficient quantities of these devices, without risk of supply disruptions, and their financial coverage,” the unions said in the open letter. 

They also called for greater use of pre-filled syringes in future campaigns, saying these would simplify administration and avoid some of the logistical problems associated with multi-dose vaccines.

The rise in cases in France has also been seen in England, with Covid-19 activity increasing in the week to September 20, and hospital PCR positivity rising from 5.9% to 7.0%. Hospital admissions also increased in the country, from 0.81 to 1.20 per 100,000 people, although overall Covid activity also remained at a low level.

The picture in the US is more mixed as Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data from September 29 showed that cases were rising in some states but falling or remaining stable in others. Most states reported low or very low levels of activity. 

Campaign remains set for October 13

For now, the health ministry has scheduled the autumn Covid and flu vaccination campaigns to begin on October 13.

The Direction générale de la Santé (DGS),the government department in charge of running the health service, said Covid vaccination is especially recommended for people at higher risk of severe disease, including those aged 65 and over, pregnant women, people with weak immune systems and those with certain chronic conditions.

Healthcare professionals and people who regularly come into contact with vulnerable people are also advised to be vaccinated.

The Covid vaccine remains available to anyone who wants it, including people outside the priority groups, and is fully covered by Assurance Maladie.

The Covid and flu vaccines can also be given during the same appointment, with injections administered in different arms. 

For people wanting to have them separately, there is no minimum interval.