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A panel of scientists advising the French government on health warned on Friday that up to 95% of people may need to be vaccinated to stem the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19.
With the increase in cases, “a fourth wave linked to the Delta variant could strike quickly, with repercussions on the health system despite high levels of vaccination,” the Scientific Council said.
“We can only control the epidemic if 90 to 95% of people are vaccinated or infected,” they added.
So far, only about half of the French have received a first dose and 40% two injections, with the government aiming to protect two-thirds, or 35 million, by the end of August.
The very contagious #Delta variant of # Covid19 will probably account for most new cases in #France from this weekend, said Health Minister Olivier Véran on Friday.
The variant is particularly widespread among young French people.@bsquinn reports ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/iPwJjyHtlO
– FRANCE 24 English (@ France24_en) July 9, 2021
“If people wait until after the summer holidays to get vaccinated, it will be too late,” said epidemiologist and member of the Scientific Council Arnaud Fontanet on RTL, recalling that vaccines are “very effective and free”.
With the number of cases rising after a series of reopening steps, President Emmanuel Macron is expected to outline the next steps to deal with the pandemic in a televised address Monday evening.
On the agenda of a meeting of the Defense Council of France earlier Monday, the question of whether to make vaccination compulsory for health workers, one of the main recommendations of scientists.
Ministers could agree on a bill as early as Tuesday before sending it to parliament.
France is considering compulsory vaccinations for health workers
The Scientific Council also called for the strengthening of the country’s monitoring and traceability program and highlighted the increasing number of hospitalizations due to the Delta variant – detected for the first time in India – in England, Scotland, Ireland and the United States. Portugal.
The strain already represents half of new infections in France and is said to be around 60% more contagious.
>> Read more: French health workers reluctant to be vaccinated against Covid-19
“Without infection control measures, there could be a peak in hospitalizations similar to that of autumn 2020,” warned the Institut Pasteur research body, adding that the unvaccinated over 60s remained particularly at risk.
Other scientific advice included reducing the number of people allowed to attend events, localized restrictions, and reducing the time between the first and second dose of mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna from six to three or four. weeks.
(AFP)
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