Covid-19: There is still time to vaccinate
people most at risk. Let’s protect them!1
Press release from the French Academy of Medicine
June 25, 2025
During the year 2024, national surveillance of COVID-19 reported continuous circulation of SARS-CoV-2 with two peaks of incidence, the first in late June/early July and the second in late September [1]. The hypothesis of a winter seasonality of the Covid-19 pandemic, comparable to that of influenza epidemics, has therefore not been confirmed.
In January 2025, a new variant of SARS-CoV-2, called NB.1.8.1, appeared in China. It is a new version of the Omicron variant. Several mutations differentiate it from the Omicron variants currently in circulation: depending on their position, these mutations could improve the binding affinity to the ACE2 cell receptor and increase the transmissibility of the virus, but also facilitate its escape from antibodies induced by previous infections or vaccinations.
Since the beginning of 2025, the NB.1.8.1 variant has caused a significant resurgence of the epidemic in Asia (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore). Its prevalence, which is still low, is increasing in North America and several European countries, suggesting that it may become dominant. To date, it does not appear to cause more severe clinical forms than other circulating variants, but on May 23, 2025, it was classified by WHO as variant under surveillance [2]. WHO specifies that the vaccines currently in use remain effective against symptomatic and severe forms.
Combined with prevention measures to stop the virus spreading (like wearing masks and hand hygiene), vaccination is an essential measure. In France, with another wave of the virus possibly on the way, the insufficient demand for vaccination is therefore regretful, especially among those who are the most at risk. Indeed, after the October 2024 – February 2025 vaccination campaign against Covid-19, the vaccination coverage among people aged 65 or over was only 21.7% (1). The spring vaccination campaign, launched on April 15, 2025 and aimed at the most vulnerable people, does not seem to meet a strong support among the target population making it extended until 15 July.
Faced with the risk of a Covid-19 epidemic resurgence during the summer months and the low level of vaccine protection among the most vulnerable, the French Academy of Medicine recommends that vaccination be carried out without delay for:
– All individuals identified as being at very high risk of severe forms of the disease (aged 80 or over, immunocompromised, residents in care homes for the elderly or long-term care units), whether or not they were vaccinated in autumn 2024;
– All individuals eligible for annual vaccination (aged 65 or over, pregnant women, with comorbidities, or in regular contact with vulnerable or immunocompromised individuals) who were not vaccinated by autumn 2024.
References
– Santé Publique France. Infections respiratoires aiguës. Bilan de la saison 2024-2025 au 15 avril 2025, p. 5
– WHO TAG-VE Risk Evaluation for SARS-CoV-2 Variant Under Monitoring: NB.1.8.1. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/documents/epp/tracking-sars-cov-2/23052025_nb.1.8.1_ire.pdf
CONTACT PRESS : Virginie Gustin +33 (0)6 62 52 43 42 virginie.gustin@academie-medecine.fr
ACADÉMIE NATIONALE DE MÉDECINE, 16 rue Bonaparte – 75272 Paris cedex 06 Site : www.academie-medecine.fr / Twitter: @Acadmed
