Covid-19 infection worries the population, because new people are infected every day. As of June 2, 2021, 5 cases have been confirmed in France, or more than 677 people in 172 hours. At the same time, since the start of the pandemic, scientists around the world have been looking for a way to protect populations from this new coronavirus, by means of a vaccine. Where is the research at? What are the advances and the results? How many people are vaccinated against Covid-19 in France? What are the side effects ? 

Covid-19 infection and vaccination in France

How many people are vaccinated to date?

It is important to differentiate the number of people who have received first dose of vaccine against Covid-19 of the vaccinated people, who received two doses of the mRNA vaccine from Pfizer / BioNtech or Moderna or the AstraZeneca vaccine, now Vaxzevria. 

As of June 2, according to the Ministry of Health, 26 176 709 people have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, which represents 39,1% of the total population. Furthermore, 11 220 050 people received a second injection, or 16,7% of the population. As a reminder, the vaccination campaign started on December 27, 2020 in France. 

Two mRNA vaccines are authorized in France, the one from Pfizer, since December 24 and that of Modern, since January 8. For these mRNA vaccines, two doses are needed to be protected from Covid-19. Since February 2, the Vaxzevria vaccine (AstraZeneca) is authorized in France. To be immunized, you also need two injections. The entire population could be vaccinated by August 31, 2021, according to the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran. Since April 24, the vaccine Janssen Johnson & Johnson is administered in pharmacies.

Here is the number of people fully vaccinated, depending on the region, as of June 2, 2021:

Who can now be vaccinated against Covid-19?

The government follows the recommendations of the Haute Autorité de Santé. Can now be vaccinated against the coronavirus:

• people aged 55 and over (including residents in nursing homes);
• vulnerable people aged 18 and over and at very high risk of severe disease (cancer, kidney disease, organ transplants, rare disease, trisomy 21, cystic fibrosis, etc.);
• people 18 years of age and over with co-morbidities;
• people with disabilities in specialized reception centers;
• pregnant women from the second trimester of pregnancy;
• relatives of immunocompromised people;
• health professionals and professionals in the medico-social sector (including ambulance attendants), home helpers working with vulnerable elderly and disabled people, ambulance attendants, firefighters and veterinarians.

Since May 10, all people over the age of 50 can be vaccinated against Covid-19. Also, since May 31, all French volunteers will be able to receive the anti-Covid vaccine, ” no age limit ».

How to get vaccinated?

Vaccination against Covid-19 is done by appointment only and according to the priority people, defined by the vaccination strategy on the recommendations of the High Authority of Health. In addition, it is carried out according to the delivery of vaccine doses, which is why disparities can be observed depending on the regions. There are several ways to access an appointment to be vaccinated: 

• contact your attending physician or pharmacist;
• via the Doctolib platform (appointment with the doctor), Covid-Pharma (appointment with the pharmacist), Covidliste, Covid Anti-Gaspi, ViteMaDose;
• obtain local information from the town hall, your attending physician or pharmacist;
• go to the sante.fr website to obtain the contact details of the vaccination center closest to your home;
• use the different platforms, such as Covidliste, vitemadose or Covidantigaspi;
• contact the national toll-free number at 0800 009 110 (open every day from 6 a.m. to 22 p.m.) in order to be directed to a center close to home;
• in companies, occupational physicians have the option of vaccinating volunteer employees over the age of 55 and suffering from co-morbidities.

Which professionals can administer vaccines against Covid-19?

In an opinion issued by the Haute Autorité de Santé on March 26, the list health professionals authorized to perform vaccine injections widens. Can vaccinate against Covid:

• pharmacists working in a pharmacy for indoor use, in a medical biology analysis laboratory;
• pharmacists reporting to the fire and rescue services and to the Marseille fire brigade battalion;
• medical radiology technicians;
• laboratory technicians;
• medical students:
• of the second year of the first cycle (FGSM2), subject to having previously completed their nursing internship,
• in second cycle in medicine, odontology, pharmacy and maieutics and in third cycle in medicine, odontology and pharmacy,
• in second and third year nursing care;
• veterinarians.

Vaccination surveillance in France

ANSM (National Medicines Safety Agency) publishes a weekly report on the potential side effects of vaccines against Covid-19 in France.

In its report, the ANSM indicates that “ the committee confirms once again the very rare occurrence of this thrombotic risk which may be associated with thrombocytopenia or coagulation disorders in people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine “. However, the risk / benefit balance remains positive. In addition, the European Medicines Agency announced on April 7, during a press conference in Amsterdam, that blood clots were now one of the rare side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine. However, the risk factors have not been identified to date. Also, two signals are being monitored, as new cases of facial paralysis and acute polyradiculoneuropathy have been identified.

In the report of March 22, the committee declared, for Pfizer’s Comirnaty vaccine, 127 cases ” reported cardiovascular and thromboembolic events “But” There is no evidence to support the role of the vaccine in the occurrence of these disorders. “. Regarding the Moderna vaccine, the Agency has declared a few cases of high blood pressure, arrhythmia and shingles. Three cases ” thromboembolic events Have been reported with Moderna’s vaccine and analyzed, but no link has been found.

Several European countries, including France, had suspended momentarily and by ” precautionary principle »The use of AstraZeneca vaccine, following the appearance of several severe cases of a bleeding disorder, such as thrombosis. A few cases of thromboembolic events have occurred in France, for more than a million injections and have been analyzed by the Medicines Agency. She concluded that ” the benefit / risk balance of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the prevention of Covid-19 is positive ” and ” the vaccine is not associated with an increased overall risk of blood clots “. However, ” a possible link with two very rare forms of blood clots (disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis) associated with a lack of blood platelets cannot be ruled out at this stage ».

Vaccines authorized in France 

The President of the Republic mentioned the vaccination strategy for France. He wants to organize a rapid and massive vaccination campaign, which started on December 27. According to the head of state, supplies are secure. Europe had already ordered 1,5 billion doses from 6 laboratories (Pfizer, Moderna, Sanofi, CureVac, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson), of which 15% will be dedicated to the French. Clinical trials must first be validated by the Medicines Agency and the Haute Autorité de Santé. In addition, a scientific committee as well as a “collective of citizens»Are created for the surveillance of vaccination in France.

Today, the government’s goal is clear: 20 million French people must be vaccinated in mid-May and 30 million in mid-June. Compliance with this vaccination schedule could allow all French volunteers over the age of 18 to be vaccinated by the end of the summer. To do this, the government is putting in place means, such as:

• the opening of 1 vaccination centers against Covid-700, to administer Pfizer / BioNtech or Moderna vaccines to people over 19 years of age;
• the mobilization of 250 healthcare professionals to inject the Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) and Johnson & Johnson vaccines;
• a call campaign and a special number for people over 75 who have not yet been able to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

• Pfizer / BioNtech’s Comirnaty vaccine

On November 10, the American laboratory Pfizer announced that the study on its vaccine shows ” an efficiency of more than 90 % ”. Scientists have recruited more than 40 people to volunteer to test their product. Half received the vaccine while the other half received the placebo. Hope is global as well as the prospect of a vaccine against the coronavirus. This is good news, according to doctors, but this information should be taken with caution. Indeed, many scientific details remain unknown. For now, the administration is rather complicated, because it is necessary to carry out two injections, of a fragment of the genetic code of the Sars-Cov-000 virus, spaced apart from each other. It also remains to be determined how long the protective immunity will last. In addition, the effectiveness must be shown on the elderly, vulnerable and at risk of developing serious forms of Covid-2, since the product has been tested, so far, on healthy people.

On December 1, the Pfizer / BioNtech duo and the American laboratory Moderna announced the preliminary results of their clinical trials. Their vaccine is, according to them, 95% and 94,5% effective respectively. They used messenger RNA, a novel and unconventional technique compared to their pharmaceutical competitors. 

Pfizer / BioNtech results have been validated in a scientific journal, The Lancet, early December. The American / German duo’s vaccine is not recommended for people with allergies. In addition, the vaccination campaign has started in the United Kingdom, with a first injection of this vaccine which was administered to an English lady.

U.S. Medicines Agency approves Pfizer / BioNtech vaccine since December 15. A vaccination campaign has started in the United States. In the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada and Saudi Arabia, the population has already started to receive first injection of BNT162b2 vaccine. According to British health authorities, this serum is not recommended for people who have allergic reactions to vaccines, medicines or food. This advice follows side effects observed in two people who have some form of severe allergy.

On December 24, the Haute Autorité de Santé has confirmed the place of the mRNA vaccine, developed by the Pfizer / BioNtech duo, in the vaccine strategy in France. It is therefore officially authorized on the territory. The anti-Covid vaccine, renamed Comirnaty®, began to be injected on December 27, in an nursing home, because the goal is to vaccinate as a priority the elderly and at risk of developing serious forms of the disease.

• The Modern vaccine

On November 18, the Moderna laboratory announced that its vaccine was 94,5% effective. Like the Pfizer laboratory, the vaccine from Moderna is a messenger RNA vaccine. It consists of the injection of part of the genetic code of the Sars-Cov-2 virus. Phase 3 clinical trials began on July 27 and include 30 people, 000% of whom are at high risk of developing severe forms of Covid-42. These observations were made fifteen days after the second injection of product. Moderna aims to deliver 19 million doses of its “mRNA-20” vaccine intended for the United States and says it is ready to manufacture between 1273 million and 500 billion doses worldwide by 1.

On January 8, the vaccine developed by the Moderna laboratory is authorized in France.

• The Covid-19 Vaxzevria vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca / Oxford

On February 1, theEuropean Medicines Agency clears vaccine developed by AstraZeneca / Oxford. The latter is a vaccine that uses an adenovirus, a virus other than Sars-Cov-2. It is genetically modified to contain the S protein, present on the surface of the coronavirus. Therefore, the immune system triggers a defensive reaction in the event of a possible Sars-Cov-2 infection.

In its opinion, the Haute Autorité de Santé updates its recommendations for Vaxzevria : it is recommended for people aged 55 and over as well as for healthcare professionals. In addition, midwives and pharmacists can perform the injections.

The use of the AstraZeneca vaccine had been suspended in France for a few days in mid-March. This action is taken by “ precautionary principle », Following the occurrence of cases of thrombosis (30 cases – 1 case in France – in Europe for 5 million people vaccinated). The European Medicines Agency then issued its opinion on the AstraZeneca vaccine. She certifies that he is ” safe and is not associated with an increased risk of thrombosis formation. Vaccination with this serum resumed on March 19 in France.

• The Janssen, Johnson & Johnson vaccine

It is a viral vector vaccine, thanks to an adenovirus, a pathogen that differs from Sars-Cov-2. The DNA of the virus used has been modified so that it produces the Spike protein, present on the surface of the coronavirus. Therefore, the immune system will be able to defend itself, in the event of infection with Covid-19, because it will be able to identify the virus and direct its antibodies against it. The Janssen vaccine has several advantages, because it is administered in a single dose. In addition, it can be stored in a cool place in a conventional refrigerator. It is 76% effective against severe forms of the disease. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been included in the vaccination strategy in France, by the Haute Autorité de Santé, since March 12. It should arrive mid-April in France.

How does a vaccine work?

DNA vaccination 

A tested and effective vaccine takes years to design. In the case of infection with Covid-19, the Pasteur Institute reminds that the vaccine will not be available before 2021. Researchers around the world are working hard to protect the population from the new coronavirus, imported from China. They are doing clinical trials in order to better understand this disease and allow better management of patients. The scientific world has mobilized so that certain vaccines have been available from 2020.

The Pasteur Institute is working to deliver a lasting result against the new coronavirus. Under the name of the project “SCARD SARS-CoV-2”, an animal model is emerging for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Secondly, they will evaluate “Immunogenicity (ability to induce a specific immune reaction) and efficacy (protective ability)”. “DNA vaccines have potential advantages over conventional vaccines, including the ability to induce a wider range of types of immune responses”.

Around the world today, around fifty vaccines are being manufactured and evaluated. These vaccines against the new coronavirus will apparently only be effective for a few months, if not a few years. The good news for scientists is that Covid-19 is genetically stable, unlike HIV, for example. 

The results of the new vaccine trials are expected by June 21, 2020. The Institut Pasteur has launched the SCARD SARS-Cov-2 project. Scientists are developing a DNA vaccine candidate to assess the efficacy of the product to be injected and the ability to produce immune reactions.

Update October 6, 2020 – Inserm has launched Covireivac, a platform to find volunteers to test Covid-19 vaccines. The organization hopes to find 25 volunteers, over the age of 000 and in good health. The project is supported by Public Health France and the National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM). The site already answers many questions and a toll-free number is available on 18 0805 297. Research in France has been at the heart of the fight against the pandemic from the start, thanks to studies on drugs and clinical trials for find a safe and effective vaccine. It also gives everyone the opportunity to become an actor against the epidemic, thanks to Covireivac. At the date of the update, there is no vaccine to fight Covid-19 infection. However, scientists around the world are mobilized and are looking for effective treatments to stop the pandemic. The vaccine consists of an injection of the pathogen causing the creation of antibodies against the agent in question. The goal is to provoke the reactions of the immune system of a person, without being sick.

Vaccination by RNAmessager

Traditional vaccines are made from the inactive or weakened virus. They aim to fight infections and prevent diseases, thanks to the antibodies produced by those of the immune system, which will recognize pathogens, to make them harmless. The mRNA vaccination is different. For example, the vaccine tested by Moderna laboratory, named “MRNA-1273“, Is not made from the Sars-Cov-2 virus, but from Messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA). The latter is a genetic code that will tell cells how to make proteins, to help the immune system produce antibodies, intended to fight the new coronavirus. 

Where are the Covid-19 vaccines to date?

Two vaccines tested in Germany and the United States

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced on March 16, 2020, that it had started the first clinical trial to test a vaccine against the new coronavirus. A total of 45 healthy people will benefit from this vaccine. The clinical trial will take place over 6 weeks in Seattle. If the test was set up quickly, this vaccine will only be marketed in a year, or even 18 months, if all goes well. On October 16, the American vaccine from the Johnson & Johnson laboratory suspended its phase 3. Indeed, the end of the clinical trial is linked to the occurrence of an “unexplained disease” in one of the volunteers. An independent committee for patient safety was called upon to analyze the situation. 

In Germany, a potential future vaccine is under study. It is developed by the CureVac laboratory, specializing in the development of vaccines containing genetic material. Instead of introducing a less active form of a virus like conventional vaccines, so that the body makes antibodies, CureVac injects molecules directly into cells that will help the body defend itself against the virus. The vaccine developed by CureVac actually contains messenger RNA (mRNA), a molecule that looks like DNA. This mRNA will allow the body to make the protein that will help the body fight the virus that causes Covid-19 disease. To date, none of the vaccines developed by CureVac has been marketed. On the other hand, the laboratory announced in early October that clinical trials for phase 2 had started.

Sanofi and GSK launch their clinical trial on humans

Sanofi has genetically replicated the proteins present on the surface clear virus SARS-Cov-2. When at GSK, he will bring “Its technology for producing adjuvanted vaccines for pandemic use. The use of an adjuvant is of particular importance in a pandemic situation because it can reduce the amount of protein required per dose, thus allowing the production of a greater quantity of doses and thus helping to protect a greater number of patients. people.” An adjuvant is a drug or treatment that is added to another to enhance or supplement its action. The immune response will therefore be stronger. Together, perhaps they will manage to release a vaccine during 2021. Sanofi, which is a French pharmaceutical company, and GSK (Glaxo Smith Kline) are working hand in hand to develop a vaccine against Covid-19 infection, since the start of the pandemic. These two companies have innovative technologies. Sanofi contributes its antigen; it is a substance foreign to the body that will trigger an immune response.

Update September 3, 2020 – The vaccine against Covid-19 developed by Sanofi and GSK laboratories has launched a test phase on humans. This trial is randomized and is carried out double-blind. This test phase 1/2 concerns more than 400 healthy patients, distributed in 11 research centers in the United States. In the press release from the Sanofi laboratory, dated September 3, 2020, it is stated that “lhe preclinical studies show promising safety and immunogenicity […] Sanofi and GSK step up antigen and adjuvant manufacture with goal of producing up to one billion doses by 2021«.

Update December 1 – Test results are expected to be made public during the month of December.

Other vaccines

Currently, 9 vaccine candidates are in phase 3 worldwide. They are tested on thousands of volunteers. Of these vaccines in the final phase of testing, 3 are American, 4 are Chinese, 1 is Russian and 1 is British. Two vaccines are also being tested in France, but are at a less advanced stage of research. 

Vladimir Putin announced that he had found a vaccine against the coronavirus, in Russia. The scientific world is skeptical, given the speed with which it has been developed. However, phase 3 has started all the same, concerning the tests. For now, no scientific data has been presented.