The compulsory vaccination of people over 50, even if its implementation , at least in the short-term, continues to provoke debate. While the government is preparing a text--to be implemented in case the health situation deteriorates--the deputies received on Monday morning in the Chamber the signatories of petition n° 2193 for a public debate.

The petition, which calls for the compulsory vaccination of people over 50 to be "buried,” has gathered 5,042 signatures, i.e., more than the 4,500-signature threshold that automatically triggers the organisation of such a debate.

Jean-Marc Graul, the author of the petition, does not consider himself to be anti-vaccine. “I have nothing against vaccination when it is necessary,” he began. “But we are afraid of this vaccination.” Fear is the reason for the petitioners' presence in the Chamber, confirmed Johnatan Barthélémy, one of the signatories of the petition.

Side effects are a concern

What explains this fear are the side effects of vaccination, even though it “is not effective.” “Everyone knows someone who has had side effects or serious symptoms despite vaccination,” continued Barthélemy, for whom it is obvious that “the risk/benefit balance is unfavourable.” All the more so as "major uncertainties" remain regarding the "long-term" or even "very long-term" adverse effects.

The group's scientific advisor, Benoit Ochs, tried to provide more convincing evidence than personal experience. Nevertheless, “I have had a very large number of reports of undesirable effects from vaccines,” said the doctor, who was banned from practising his profession for a year by the Disciplinary Board of the Medical College, a sanction that .

According to this veteran of anti-vaccine demonstrations, studies are now revealing “an enormous number of undesirable effects,” but this “explosion” is “ignored in the debate” because “we try to hide them.” In addition, the number of vaccinated patients in hospitals is now much higher than that of unvaccinated patients, proof, he said, of the vaccine's ineffectiveness.

Scientifically-proven effectiveness

“Vaccination creates discussion, but that does not mean that vaccines are not effective,” replied (Piratepartei) who, while recalling that he was opposed to compulsory vaccination, reiterated that the effectiveness of vaccination is “scientifically proven” and that, even if there are side effects, the benefit exists.

“Without vaccines, hospitals would have been overwhelmed,” said health committee chair (LSAP). He added that the fact that more people are vaccinated in hospitals is a "biased" figure, since when the population is 80% vaccinated, it is logical that they should now represent the majority of patients.

Rare serious side effects?

The minister of health, (LSAP), also reminded the audience that the pharmacovigilance reports must be interpreted correctly: all people who are ill within a certain period of time after vaccination are reported, without the causal link being proven. “There are cases where a clear link is found, but this is rare,” she explained.

Beyond the debate on the efficacy and dangers of vaccination, which is unlikely to reconcile the two sides, the debate on compulsory vaccination seemed to be a pretext, as such an obligation seems unlikely. “The benefit to society must be worth it,” said Lenert. The minister of justice, (Gréng), reminded us that “the prerequisites for a decision on compulsory vaccination have not yet been met.”

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.