JN.1 Covid variant, flu… Health minister calls for ‘resumption of vaccinations’ ahead of holidays

Since the pandemic, this has become a habit before every Christmas. Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau called this Wednesday for the “resumption of vaccinations” against Covid and against influenza, for “a good holiday” and for “hospitals not to be overloaded this winter.”

According to the latest bulletin published by French Public Health, the number of Covid infections in cities and hospitals among adults, especially older people, continues to rise. There were more than 4,350 weekly suspected Covid visits in emergency departments alone, followed by more than 1,820 hospital admissions.

“Since the start of the pandemic, waves have occurred approximately every four months, largely as a result of declining population immunity,” adding “a projected winter resurgence with falling outdoor temperatures and increased time spent indoors, where transmission of the virus is facilitated,” explains infectious disease specialist Xavier Lescure, member of Covars (committee for monitoring and forecasting health risks).

JN.1 variant under surveillance

Possible rebound carriers, several virus variants (XBB.1.5, XXB.1.16, EG.5, BA.2.86) are under enhanced surveillance worldwide. The BA.2.86 sublineage, called JN.1, has received particular study.

“Appearing suddenly and much more infectious than its predecessors, JN.1 has almost as significant immune escape as its relatives in the XBB family (…), but due to a completely different combination of genetic mutations,” explained Etienne Simon- Laurier. , Head of the National Reference Center (CNR) for Respiratory Viruses at the Pasteur Institute. In France, at the beginning of December, 30% of Covid cases recorded in the laboratory fell under JN.1.

To “have a good holiday”

According to the French Ministry of Health, flu cases are also rising throughout the country, especially in the Pac region, which has entered an epidemic phase.

A resurgence of Covid, coupled with other acute respiratory infections such as influenza and bronchiolitis, also risks increasing pressure on hospitals faced with a “triple epidemic” last year.

Despite the decline in syndromic rates, cases of bronchiolitis are still very high in France, where all regions are in an epidemic phase, according to SPF.

In order to “have a good holiday” and so that “hospitals are not overloaded this winter,” Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau called this Wednesday from a Paris pharmacy to “resume vaccinations” against Covid and influenza.

Speaking about “those who are going to be reunited with their parents and grandparents at Christmas”, Aurélien Rousseau reasoned that “we would all be more relaxed if all those little people around the tree were vaccinated.”

Reducing risks with vaccines

“If you were infected with the virus less than six months ago, or better yet, vaccinated less than six months ago, your chances of ending up in the hospital from JN.1 are very much reduced, despite all its new mutations. Thanks to the increase in antibody levels, as well as the cellular reactions of the body (little affected by the evolution of the virus), in the vast majority of cases it will be eliminated before causing a severe form of the disease, but a priori it can be transmitted,” says Etienne Simon-Laurier.

Over time, the impact of Covid on hospitalization and mortality has decreased significantly due to immunity acquired through vaccination and/or infections. But it is not zero, and the specter of post-Covid syndrome (or long Covid) remains.