The General Directorate of Health recognized this Tuesday “delays” in the vaccination against monkeypox that the authorities have decided to offer preventively to the most exposed groups, in particular homosexuals, but assures that “all the people affected (… ) can be vaccinated”. .
Faced with the increase in monkeypox cases and the difficulties in tracking contamination chains, France announced the extension of vaccination from this week, but health authorities are facing a growing number of critics who denounce difficulties in obtaining a date.
“Given the high demand, delays in making appointments and injections may be observed during the first days of the campaign,” the DGS agreed in a press release.
“In addition, although the monkeypox vaccines are part of the strategic stock and that, for the safety of all, the information related to this stock is classified and cannot be disclosed, the health authorities confirm that all the people affected by the indications of SAH can be vaccinated,” he assured, however.
More than 700 vaccinations in France
The authorities have decided to set up a free “Monkeypox Information Service” number (0801 90 80 69) accessible from 8 am to 11 pm and 7 days a week to inform the public about the epidemic and vaccination.
In addition, if certain vaccination centers “have already been active for several days”, for example in Ile-de-France, “other centers will open, starting this week and in the next, to cover the entire metropolitan and overseas territory. ”. , emphasizes Public Health of France.
Since the beginning of the epidemic and until July 8, more than 700 post-exposure vaccinations have been carried out on people considered risk contacts.
Criticism of the slowness of the health authorities
Criticism of the slow start of the vaccination process has flourished on social networks broadcast by associations or politicians such as the socialist group in the National Assembly that on Tuesday challenged Health Minister François Braun on the need to “react quickly”.
The possibility of preventive vaccination concerns “men who have sex with men and trans people who report multiple sexual partners, people in a situation of prostitution, professionals in places of sexual consumption.”
“Vaccination can also be considered on a case-by-case basis for health professionals who have to care for sick people,” the DGS said.
Source: BFM TV
