Covid19. Is the Janssen vaccine still available in France?
“Where to buy the vaccine with Janssen in the Bordeaux region? »asks Marie-Pierre.
Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine is no longer actually used in France.
“It is no longer possible to order this vaccine in the city. However, this vaccine can be obtained at a health facility in the area designated by the Regional Health Agency for a person who is unable to receive a dose of messenger RNA and does not wish to be vaccinated with Novavax.General Directorate of Health (DGS) this Monday, December 12, 2022. The Novavax vaccine, like Janssen, is messenger RNA-free.
“The number of injections with this vaccine remains very low, with only 4,126 injections since the beginning of 2022, including 45 in November.”the ministry adds.
According to Vaccine Tracker, 1er Since the start of the vaccination campaign against Covid-19 in December 2022, 1.08 million French men and women have received this vaccine as a primary vaccination.
A vaccine protected in certain circumstances
However, as of February 2022, the High Authority for Health (HAS) recommends maintaining the Janssen option for people at risk of contracting a severe form of Covid-19 and providing a contraindication to the use of the messenger RNA vaccine.
HAS bases its decision on the findings of a proposed study “Slightly increased risk of myocardial infarction within two weeks of vaccination with Janssen vaccine”.
However, HAS also adds that“To date, when more than 38 million doses of Janssen vaccine have been administered, available worldwide pharmacovigilance data are reassuring, and no signal has been identified regarding the risk of myocardial infarction at the European level or at the US level.”.
“Following pharmacovigilance signals and in accordance with the opinion of the Haute Autorité de Santé dated February 17, 2022, the Janssen vaccine should only be used in people at risk of a severe form of Covid-19 and with contraindications. – instruction. messenger RNA vaccine ( (Pfizer or Moderna) for the vaccine. Only in these cases can the Janssen vaccine continue to be offered within the framework of shared medical judgment and after clearly informing the patient of the potential benefits and risks.” Completes the General Directorate of Health.
Is Janssen still useful?
“There is no reason to ask for a Janssen vaccine instead of RNA at this time! »to us the head of the department of infectious diseases of Rennes University Hospital (Ille-et-Vilaine) Pr. Pierre Tattevin says.
People 18 years of age and older who want to be vaccinated with a non-mRNA vaccine can receive Novavax if they wish and apply.
France still has less than 500,000 doses of Janssen, mainly in national and capital France. “Considering that the contract we have with the laboratory and the European Commission is closed and the last deliveries are made at the beginning of 2022, no new orders are planned,” Defines the DGS.
And to remind?
People who want to get a booster dose with a non-mRNA vaccine should soon be able to get Novavax or Sanofi because the Haute Autorité de Santé has placed these vaccines in the vaccination campaign. In any case, it is recommended to vaccinate with the bivalent mRNA vaccine in connection with the autumn campaign.
Also read: Covid-19 vaccine reminder: two new vaccines are now authorized by HAS
What vaccines are included in the primary vaccination?
A person starting the course of the Covid-19 vaccine today can receive one of these three vaccines, depending on their age: Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna or Novavax.
From 5 to 11 years of age, the pediatric form of the Pfizer vaccine is used. From the age of 12, this vaccine is prescribed in the same amount as for adults.
The Moderna vaccine is intended for people over 30 years of age. As of November 2021, the Haute Autorité de Santé recommends the use of the Pfizer vaccine for the population under 30 years of age and as soon as it is available, either as a primary vaccine or as a booster. In contrast, the HAS recommends that the Moderna vaccine, which appears to be slightly more effective, can be used as a primary vaccine and a booster dose in people over 30 years of age.
