“There is a resumption of the epidemic and it is completely unexpected compared to the season”alert Sunday June 19 on franceinfo the infectiologist Benjamin Davido, Covid-19 referent at the Garches hospital (Hauts-de-Seine). “With the new current variants, which are more contaminating, from 10 to 15%, the epidemic finds fresh blood even though we have passed the period of the cold season”he continues.
>>> Covid-19: follow the evolution of the pandemic in France and around the world
However, certain factors explain this rebound. The infectiologist recalls that last summer “had been accompanied by an unprecedented wave” related to the Delta variant. He also points to the removal “of the last dikes of restrictions that existed”such as the end of wearing a mask in public transport, which he says “deplore”.
According to Benjamin Davido, “the fact that this virus can strike in the middle of summer makes it endemic”in other words, “it circulates throughout the year”. This implies, according to him, “to act, to anticipate the next waves” and “for that, you have to be able to say that there will be booster shots”. In favor of a “vaccination relaunch”Benjamin Davido believes that it is necessary “explain to the French why we are going to make vaccine reminders”.
“There is no lasting immunity to these coronaviruses, just like the flu and that is why we vaccinate every year”
Benjamin Davido, infectious disease specialistat franceinfo
“We must apply the same tools to the Covid as the flu”, plead Benjamin Davido and continue to protect themselves.
“We are in a preposterous situation, we no longer protect ourselves, we have almost fallen into the opposite excesse”, he regrets. According to Benjamin Davido, “we have decreed a Chernobyl cloud” with the end of the mask in airports and planes in Europe, while it remains compulsory in certain countries beyond our borders.
The infectious disease specialist said he was optimistic about our ability “to contain this summer wave”, in particular because many French people were vaccinated at the beginning of the year or were infected. But, according to him, “this immunity will start to fray and we will not be able to get past the autumn period” without a new vaccine booster.