Covid-19: conditions, effectiveness, timing… everything you need to know about vaccination in the run-up to Christmas

Now the same melody sounds every year. This Wednesday, Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau called for a “resumption of vaccinations” against Covid-19 and against influenza in order to “have a good holiday”. The fall campaign officially started in early October. Since then, 25.6% of “people aged 65 years and over” have received a booster vaccination against Covid-19, according to France’s latest public health bulletin (SPF), published on December 13.

At the same time, the Covid-19 epidemic is gaining momentum again, most likely thanks to the Omicron JN.1 sub-variant. The latter is “spreading much faster,” Mircea Sofonea, a lecturer in epidemiology at the University of Montpellier, told us on December 6th.

How to protect yourself ten days before Christmas? It is too late? Le Parisien sums it up.

Who can get vaccinated?

Anyone who wants it. In practice, booster vaccination is recommended for “people aged 65 years and older, people at risk of serious illness, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, residents of nursing homes and long-term care units (long-term care units), and people living in close quarters or in regular contact with immunocompromised or vulnerable people,” reminds SPF. In short: the people most at risk and those around them. According to Aurélien Rousseau, five million people have already received it.

According to Jean-Daniel Lelièvre, a vaccine specialist and immunologist at the Henri-Mondor hospital in Créteil, vaccination on a large scale outside the target population “does not make sense.” Instead, he recommends barrier gestures for those preparing to meet older people. “This is more of a family gesture than for ourselves. We cannot predict who is at risk of serious forms,” adds Philippe Besset, president of the French Pharmaceutical Union Federation (FSPF). Vaccination remains important for loved ones who are immunocompromised.

How to get vaccinated?

There are several places where you can get vaccinated, most notably pharmacies. In the latter case, you almost just have to ask. “It’s always best to make an appointment by phone or Doctolib because these are multi-dose vials. Therefore, we are trying to group vaccinations together,” says Philippe Besse. But these meetings are “daily,” he assures. According to him, in pharmacies “there is no problem with goods.”

Vaccination may also be administered by a doctor, home nurse, or certain laboratories. It is always free “for everyone,” reminds Health Insurance. However, you must have a vital card with you.

On the other hand, it is advisable to “observe a minimum period of six months after the last injection or infection,” the Ministry of Health notes. “This period is reduced to three months for people with weakened immune systems,” the ministry adds, with protection among them declining faster. However, there is no risk of getting another injection four or five months after contracting the virus.

Is the vaccine effective against the JN.1 variant?

Yes… but perhaps less. The virus is certainly evolving, but it remains a member of the Omicron family, like its more recent predecessors, against which the vaccines currently in use work. “The vaccine response always targets those parts of the virus that are not affected by mutations,” explains Professor Lelièvre. The effectiveness may be lower, but it will remain sustainable.” Thus, the vaccine remains useful mainly against severe forms of the virus.

Already on December 6, the head of the department of viruses and immunity, Olivier Schwartz, explained to us that a person recently infected or vaccinated may be slightly less protected from the JN.1 variant than from other strains.

Is it too late to protect yourself at Christmas?

No, says Jean-Daniel Lelièvre. Booster vaccination provides good protection “four to five days” after the injection, he said. The optimal time would be about a week after administration, since revaccination only “stimulates” the immunity already acquired by a previous infection or injection. “You must get vaccinated before Sunday (December 17),” the specialist summarizes. The closer the vaccination gets to Christmas, the less effective it will be on D-Day.

The same answer was given this Thursday morning on BFMTV by Aurélien Rousseau. “There is still time to get vaccinated,” he insisted. “We have the tool, we know how to do it. We have vaccines, they are reliable,” he said, making a “solemn address.”

According to Aurélien Rousseau, vaccination will also protect the health system, which is “under pressure.” [pourrait] be very strong” as the “Christmas holiday approaches.”