Launch of phase 5a of the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 with the AstraZeneca vaccine ​

The first invitations were sent to people under the age of 65, starting with the oldest, in line with the recommendations of the Superior Council for Infectious Diseases (Conseil supérieur des maladies infectieuses - CSMI) of 4 February 2021 concerning the conditions for administering the AstraZeneca vaccine.

As a reminder, in its opinion of 4 February, the Superior Council for Infectious Diseases (CSMI) had noted that although the efficacy of AstraZeneca's vaccine against severe forms (hospitalisations) and death was excellent, irrespective of the age group, the vaccine efficacy data for people over a certain age were still rather limited at that time. These concerns have led the CSMI to conclude that, in the current context where other vaccines are available for which efficacy data in the elderly or highly vulnerable persons are more solid, it is preferable to give preference to administering the BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines to persons aged 65 and over, and to offer vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine to younger persons.

It should also be noted that the Ministry of Health has submitted to the CSMI a request for an opinion in relation to the administration of the AstraZeneca® vaccine against COVID-19 in the light of the discussions currently taking place within the "Ständige Impfkommission in Deutschland" (STIKO), as well as within the "Haute autorité de santé" (HAS) concerning the age limit for the administration of the AstraZeneca® vaccine.

Press release by the Ministry of Health

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