the High Authority of Health will issue its opinion “this summer” for reimbursement of the GSK vaccine “in the fall”, affirms Catherine Vautrin

“The High Authority of Health will provide its information [ses recommandations] in the summer” concerning the vaccine against the bronchiolitis virus for seniors from the GSK laboratory, said Thursday February 22 on France Bleu Mayenne Catherine Vautrin, Minister of Labor, Health and Solidarity. If this review is positive, then “from the fall we will be able to have” of this reimbursed vaccine, i.e. before the next bronchiolitis epidemic, she specifies.

Each year in France, 25,000 elderly or weakened people are hospitalized due to respiratory syncytal virus and 5 to 10,000 die after contracting RSV. Vaccines from Pfizer and GSK laboratories intended for seniors have already been approved by the European Medicines Agency, but in France doctors have already been waiting for the green light for several months. The Arexvy vaccine, from GSK, is already available in France and can be prescribed, but pending the opinion of the HAS it is not covered by Health Insurance. “To be reimbursed, the therapeutic effectiveness must be validated by the HAS”underlines Catherine Vautrin.

If the HAS therefore gives the green light for reimbursement by Social Security of this vaccine, then it “will protect people aged 60 and over”, greets Catherine Vautrin. The new Minister of Labor, Health and Solidarity recalls that “These infections are very common in winter and are very contagious”from where “the importance” a refund in the fall. “These are as many people who, vaccinated, will perhaps not resort to antibiotics, and above all we will save lives”, insists Catherine Vautrin. She also specifies that production of the Arexvy vaccine will be launched in the GSK factory in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux (North).