Anti-Covid vaccines: the path widens towards a 3rd dose for all French people

First the oldest and most fragile, tomorrow everyone? French health authorities are now recommending a third dose of the Covid vaccine for each caregiver and indicate that they could soon do the same for all adults. The High Authority for Health (HAS) "expands the scope of the booster dose" of vaccines against Covid-19, it announced in a press release on Wednesday. Like other countries, France launched a recall campaign several weeks ago, in the face of the loss of effectiveness of the vaccines injected at the start of the year. Even if they still protect well against serious forms of the disease, they avoid contamination less and less. This is probably a consequence of the emergence of the Delta variant, which is much more contagious than its predecessors. Until now, the recall campaign only concerned those over 65 and people at risk, such as the obese and diabetics, provided they had been vaccinated more than six months ago. This represents 18 million French people. Now, almost four million more could be added if the government follows the advice of the High Authority for Health (HAS). This indeed recommends extending the reminders to “caregivers, medical transport and professionals in the medico-social sector”.

Foot: A suspended penalty point for OM, Lens and Lille

New excesses, new sanctions: the Disciplinary Committee of the Professional Football League cracked down again on Wednesday after the incidents that marked the Lens-Lille and Angers-OM matches, the two clubs from Hauts-de-France and Marseille in particular being fined a suspended one-point withdrawal. Angers, for its part, was sanctioned less harshly, with two matches behind closed doors for its Coubertin stand, one of which was suspended. The firm match has already been purged. The SCO also received a fine of 20,000 euros. For Lens, Lille and Marseille, the suspended point withdrawal is accompanied by additional measures. Lens was sanctioned with two matches behind closed doors, already purged. Lille and Marseille have their visitor parking lots closed during away matches until December 31, 2021. These sanctions come after overflows in the stands during the Lens-Lille derby on September 18 and the Angers-OM match on September 22.

IN SHORT

A Texas federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked a controversial law banning the majority of abortions in that state, as part of a lawsuit filed by the Biden administration, which immediately hailed a "victory" for Texans.

At least 20 people were killed and more than 200 others were injured when a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit southern Pakistan early Thursday morning, according to local authorities.

U.S. soccer players Washington Spirit and Gotham FC halted their game for more than a minute on Wednesday to protest alleged sexual assaults of former players, allegations that rock the North American Soccer League female (NWSL).