“We have Moderna to offer you!” Faced with the weakening of Pfizer’s stocks in Covid-19 vaccination centers, caregivers now strongly suggest that people over 30 be injected with the competing serum, which they have been receiving in quantity for a few days. Moderna, whose effectiveness for this booster dose scientists praise, but which some patients are still sulking.
This gentleman in the queue to get vaccinated has a stern look and to the question “Will you accept Moderna over Pfizer?”, he doesn’t hesitate for a second: “The answer is no”. No need to argue, “I prefer Pfizer since I have the experience of the first two which went well”, he said.
The choice of continuity is what comes back to these patients closed to the idea of changing serum. “We are not going to rush them”, says Doctor Marc Jacono, head of this Parisian center where 300 people are vaccinated every day. “We offer them the Moderna vaccine, we do not oblige them. People have made an appointment for Pfizer so we offer them Moderna instead, they have the right to refuse. The goal of caregivers is to explain to them that these are very similar vaccines “, he specifies.
“It’s true that we say to ourselves why change, in fact?” blows Kevin, 33, who has just been injected a dose of Moderna, convinced by the doctor. “Most of my friends look for centers based on availability for Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. They go further than expected, I have a friend who went to Bagneux, another to Courbevoie. I told them that I was took Moderna and everything went well. “
Like Kevin, a third of the patients at this center who are offered it agree to quit Pfizer. A majority actually shrug their shoulders because “the main thing is to be vaccinated”, blows a lady.
In the vaccination box, Nicolas, in his forties, relies completely on the nursing staff: “What advice do you have when you’ve had two doses of Pfizer?”, he asks. “It’s the same efficiency, the same side effects”, answers the caregiver. So it will be Moderna.
Any reticent still has a choice, but not for a long time emphasizes Dr. Jacono, given the nature of the last doses received and vaccines in stock. “For the moment, we have 50% of Pfizer, 50% of Moderna. But we know that around January, we will get closer to 80% of Moderna and 20% of Pfizer.”
“The Pfizer is definitely going to be booked for those under 30.”
And the president of the Scientific Council Jean-François Delfraissy to drive the point home, at the same time, auditioned in the Senate. “If we do not use our Moderna vaccines, we will not have enough to vaccinate for the period of January, he blurted out. It is not a second choice, it is a first choice like the Pfizer. I can’t be clearer. “
For a few days also, the town hall of Paris, for its part, has been sending an SMS to those who had made an appointment for Pfizer. History to prepare the spirits: it is undoubtedly Moderna, which one will propose to you!
In vaccination centers, patients reluctant to use Moderna’s vaccine – Agathe Mahuet
to listen