the Haute Autorité de santé approves the use of three vaccines adapted to the Omicron variant for the new recall campaign

A few weeks after their approval by the European Medicines Agency and in the context of the resumption of the Covid-19 epidemic, the High Authority for Health (HAS) issued its opinion, Tuesday, September 20, on the use of bivalent vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna against the Omicron variant and its sublineages, including BA.5. The HAS recommends the use of these vaccines as part of a recall campaign to be implemented this fall.

The institution recommends that people over 60 and at risk be the first to receive a booster dose. “HAS recommended extending the administration of an additional booster dose (2nd booster or 4th dose most often) to adults under 60 identified as being at risk of a severe form of Covid-19, to women pregnant and to people living in their surroundings or in regular contact with immunocompromised or vulnerable people”, she said in a statement. Professionals in the health and medico-social sector should also benefit, adds the institution.

As part of this recall campaign that HAS recommends setting up in the fall, the use of bivalent vaccines is recommended. “preferably”, let the Authority know and “regardless of the vaccines previously used”. Only one exception: people under 30 years old. HAS “maintains its recommendation to use only Comirnaty vaccines”, or those developed by Pfizer.