Moderna vaccine will be used in areas of France worst-hit by Covid-19
France's health minister said on Sunday that more than 50,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine from US-based Moderna, newly authorised in Europe, would be ready for use this week in hard-hit regions.
Olivier Véran told Europe 1 radio that after arriving in France on Monday, the vaccine would be sent to towns and cities with the highest virus circulation, largely in eastern France - from Strasbourg on the German border to Nice on the Mediterranean.
Coming on top of ongoing distribution of Pfizer-BioNTech shots, the Moderna doses would reach vaccination centres by Wednesday, Véran added.
The health ministry said in a statement that almost eight million doses of Moderna's vaccine would arrive in France by July.
Like the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, it takes two injections spaced out over several weeks for Moderna's version to reach maximum effectiveness.
It poses fewer logistical challenges however as it requires storage only at -20C rather than around -80C for Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine.
After fierce criticism of the government for a halting start to its campaign, Veran said that by the end of the weekend over 100,000 people would have been vaccinated.
Neighbouring Germany has already topped half a million, while Britain says it is injecting 200,000 per day.
#CouvreFeu18h #COVID19 : les départements concernés >> https://t.co/Df1JjZhl30 pic.twitter.com/aH0nSWoqxW
— Le Parisien Infog (@LeParisienInfog) January 9, 2021
Several areas of eastern France re reporting worrying high levels of Covid-19 cases and increasing pressure on hospitals. An earlier curfew of 6pm - 6am has now been extended to 23 départements.
Comments
See Also
Olivier Véran told Europe 1 radio that after arriving in France on Monday, the vaccine would be sent to towns and cities with the highest virus circulation, largely in eastern France - from Strasbourg on the German border to Nice on the Mediterranean.
Coming on top of ongoing distribution of Pfizer-BioNTech shots, the Moderna doses would reach vaccination centres by Wednesday, Véran added.
The health ministry said in a statement that almost eight million doses of Moderna's vaccine would arrive in France by July.
Like the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, it takes two injections spaced out over several weeks for Moderna's version to reach maximum effectiveness.
It poses fewer logistical challenges however as it requires storage only at -20C rather than around -80C for Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine.
After fierce criticism of the government for a halting start to its campaign, Veran said that by the end of the weekend over 100,000 people would have been vaccinated.
Neighbouring Germany has already topped half a million, while Britain says it is injecting 200,000 per day.
#CouvreFeu18h #COVID19 : les départements concernés >> https://t.co/Df1JjZhl30 pic.twitter.com/aH0nSWoqxW
— Le Parisien Infog (@LeParisienInfog) January 9, 2021
Several areas of eastern France re reporting worrying high levels of Covid-19 cases and increasing pressure on hospitals. An earlier curfew of 6pm - 6am has now been extended to 23 départements.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.