“The first observations in some countries in which there have been a number of people already vaccinated tend to show – scientists from these countries also say this – that there would be less transmission of the virus.“than in the rest of the population,” said Olivier Véran.

“We put quotes until everything is written in stone in science, but we have good reason to hope“, he added.

Still many uncertainties

The Covid-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna have been authorized on the basis of their effectiveness in preventing the development of symptoms of the disease.

However, there is still uncertainty as to whether vaccinated people can carry the virus asymptomatically and transmit it.

It is for this reason in particular that the High Authority of Health (HAS) recommended to vaccinate as a priority the people having the greatest individual benefit to be vaccinated (those who have the most risk of developing a severe form of Covid- 19 and die).

The vaccine could reduce contamination

“In addition, data published in the case of the Moderna vaccine, but whose mechanism is the same as that of Pfizer, tend to show that there would indeed be a reduction in contamination.“, also recalled Olivier Véran, referring to the data made public in mid-December by the American biotech.

Beyond the level of protection against disease, “the second very interesting thing is the protection against infection” itself, which would be in the range of 60% to 65%, and could be higher after the second. dose, commented Moncef Slaoui, chief scientist of the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed.