Thread by @john_lichfield

Weekly French vaccination thread.
The French roll-out, still described as “stuttering” or “glacial” in UK media (and even some Fr media) continues to boom. Over 500,000 doses (1st/ 2nd) were given yesterday, a record. Fr should exceed its 10m 1st jabs 15 April target by 2m.
1/12

There are still problems, however.
I was premature last week to say there was NO widespread anti-AstraZeneca feeling in France. Resistance to AZ because of the clot issue meant use fell to 61% this week, with 1.7m doses now in stock. 2/12

Weekend stats also continue to be poor – despite Macron’s promise to vax morning, noon and night. Around 300,000 jabs in 3 days over Easter. To hit its 15 May target of 20m 1st shots, France has to jump from 214,000 to 266,000 a day – doable but more weekend jabs would help
3/12

AZ also continues to fail. The 2.6m doses due to be sent to the EU next week have been halved, says the FT. This is half of the third originally promised. In Fr AZ take-up is now so low – 37,000 doses a day after 86,000 in March – that the cut should make little difference. 4/12

Now good news….
There are signs that the UK-variant fuelled 3rd wave of Covid in France is peaking. Some stats have been muddled by glitches but a plateau of 700 cases/100,000 people/7 days seems to have been reached in the worst-afflicted areas, Gr. Paris and the N-west. 5/12

Secondly, the vax rollout is beginning to encompass high proportions of older age groups. Over 62% of over 75s have had at least 1 jab and 34.2% have had both. For 65-75’s the figures are 38% and 6%. This should begin to reduce acute cases soon. 6/12

https://twitter.com/nicolasberrod/status/1380586797542039554

Thirdly, this is not just a French success. Most other EU countries are also vaxxing at high rates now that large supplies of Pfizer and to a less extent Moderna are available. Johnson and Johnson starts its one-jab rollout in the EU on 19 April. 7/12

Stats.
Figures for use of doses in France do now show a clear resistance to AZ – and to a lesser extent Moderna. As of Thurs, by my calculations, Pfizer doses were 85% used, Moderna 69% and AZ 61%. Overall French utilisation rate is now 78%, slightly down on last week. 8/12

I fear that AZ resistance will grow following the decision by the Fr govt and medical advisory board that under 55s who have had a dose of AZ should receive a 2nd dose of another vax. This goes against WHO guidelines but the French board says there should be no problem. 9/12

The UK has finally admitted that the AZ vax is linked to v v rare, fatal blood clots for younger people. Maybe, some of those who last month accused France and the EU (but mostly France) of political bias against the sainted AZ would now like to apologise. Some hope…
10/12

Here, for the record, are the basic figures for the Fr roll-out up to last night.
First dose: 10,507,294
Total doses: 14,108,557. 11/12

In next 5 weeks, to hit its 15 May target of 20m, Fr. must give 9.5 m 1st doses. About 3m 2nd doses are due. That’s 12.5m doses in 36 days – 347,000 a day. The av. in the last 7 days was 285,000.
With 40 big vaccinodomes in use, it's doable, if Sat/Sun jab-rate improves
12/12.