Caregivers “hit” by the AstraZeneca vaccine? The national drug safety agency (ANSM) reports in his update on vaccine surveillance February 11 that 10,000 people, mostly healthcare professionals, received the first dose of AstraZeneca between February 6 and 10. And of these, 149 reported flu-like symptoms, often severe, with high fever, body aches and headaches, in response to the vaccine.

Read also: Vaccines against covid: what side effects to expect?

Stagger vaccinations

Even if “these side effects are known and described with vaccines“, indicates the ANSM, it is a”potential signal “ of which health facilities have been informed.

Because what the health agency fears is that the care services will be disrupted if too many caregivers in the same service suffer from the side effects of the vaccine at the same time.

This is why the ANSM now recommends staggered vaccination of staff in the same department. If necessary, she also calls for the use of paracetamol “at the lowest dose and for the shortest time possible“against these side effects.

24-hour work stoppage

A group effect confirmed by the Saint-Lô Hospital Center (Manche) which indicates on February 11 in a press release to review its schedules in order to comply with this precaution. Some of its services have indeed already been disrupted due to a high proportion of discomfort among vaccinated staff.

“Lots of intense feverish reactions“with the AstraZeneca vaccine, also observed on Twitter Doctor Christophe Trivalle, vaccine referent at Paul-Brousse hospital (Villejuif). He evokes reactions from “20 to 50%“vaccinated,”can lead to a 24-hour work stoppage“.

Cases of hypertension with the Pfizer vaccine

But the AstraZeneca vaccine is not the only one to attract the attention of the ANSM. The Pfizer / BioNTech messenger RNA vaccine has, since the start of vaccination, resulted in 73 cases of high blood pressure. This effect occurred immediately after vaccination or in a delayed manner, but was always short-lived and progressed favorably, details the ANSM.

It does not therefore call into question the safety of the vaccine, but “is a signal that must be monitored“, estimates the drug agency.

Thus, in front of any symptom suggestive of arterial hypertension – malaise, headaches, dizziness – the ANSM recommends that vaccinated people carry out a blood pressure check for medical treatment as early as possible, if this is necessary. is necessary.

Only the third vaccine authorized in the territory, the Moderna vaccine, does “nowadays“the object of none”safety signal“, finally specifies the agency.