Author: Nicole Perez Published : February 2nd ,2022 Ref: 0654 Although not as accurate as PCR, the home antigen test can achieve a relatively high level of accuracy if the instructions are carefully considered. It will be able to reveal, reliably by chemical reaction, the protein which signs the presence of the corona virus in the positive person. 1. Store test kits like medicines: in a dry place, at a temperature between 2 and 24 degrees. Indeed, poor storage conditions damage the tests. 2. Avoid disturbing the chemical reaction: Before performing the test, clean the work surface, wash your hands and put on disposable gloves if necessary. 3. Collect sample: Start the test by taking a sample from the pharynx with the swab, then use the same swab for the nostril swab. The omicron variant lodged in the pharyngeal mucosa is thus better detected. 4. Mix the swab in the tube: Mix the swab well in the tube positioned vertically and make circular movements with the swab. 5. Using developer: Run the required number of drops into the tiny window of the test plate. 6. Read the result: Wait 15 minutes (use a timer or smartphone stopwatch) to observe the result. This is the time required for the chemical reaction to occur. Results:• Red C band: negative test• Red C and T bands: positive test• Other cases: invalid test

Summary of the Vaccine Safety Net Resources Author:Task force Published : January 12,2021 Most people are able to get the COVID-19 vaccine. But, a few groups of people should not get the vaccine, some should not get the vaccine for the time being and others should consult with their doctor and eventually follow special procedures. References

Minor to moderate secondary effects may occur after vaccination as they may occur after any vaccination; those side effects are a sign that the immune system is building up protection to the disease. They may affect your ability to do daily activities, but should resolve within a few days. The regulatory authorities in most countries have set up extensive monitoring of the vaccinated people and track continuously the eventual occurrence of rare unexpected events with COVID vaccines. READ MORE to read more

Summary of the Vaccine Safety Net Resources Author:Task force Vaccine Published : January 12,2021 Updated: 31/01/2021 Ref: 0011 EN Most people are able to get the COVID-19 vaccine. But, a few groups of people should not get the vaccine, some should not get the vaccine for the time being and others should consult with their doctor and eventually follow special procedures. 1 - People who should NOT get the vaccine: - Anyone who had a previous anaphylactic shock or a strong allergic reaction to a previous SAME vaccine (includes people who had a severe allergy to the 1st dose of the vaccines. Those people shouldn’t get the 2nd one) - Anyone with a severe allergy to any component of the COVID vaccine 2 - Persons who should NOT get the vaccine for the time being - People below 16 years of age because a too small amount of data is presently available - People isolated or with COVID symptoms; they must wait after isolation ends and/or symptoms resolve - People who recently had COVID; they-must wait until 90 days after treatment is over. NB According to the countries it may be recommended or not to vaccinate people who had COVID. Check the recommendations in your country. - People who may get the vaccine after their doctor carefully considered their individual risks and benefit -Pregnant women and breastfeeding: due to the small amount of data during the clinical trials, it was not recommended to get the vaccine at the time of authorisation by regulatory agencies. - Then with the occurrence of several severe cases of COVID 19 in pregnant women, several countries are now recommending the vaccination in pregnancy and breastfeeding women.It is considered that pregnancy is in itself a risk of getting severe forms of COVID 19. This is the case in Israel and in the USA where the regulatory authorities recommend the vaccination after the 1st quarter of pregnancy and in breastfeeding. In France, the association of obstetricians has reached the same conclusion, but it is not yet officially recommended by the French regulatory authorities. Therefore, especially when breastfeeding or pregnant women present a high risk of getting a complicated COVID-19 either because of underlying disease or any other reason, the doctor could consider the individual benefit and risks. In addition it is admitted to consider vaccination for any pregnant woman who will desire it. According to the countries it may be possible or not to vaccinate pregnant and breastfeeding women. Check the recommendations in your country. - People with history of severe allergy (requiring medical intervention) to any vaccine or any injectable medication or non-injectable substance; they should consult their doctor prior to vaccination and remain under medical surveillance at the vaccination location for 30 min after injection - People with HIV - People with certain immune-compromising conditions - People on anticoagulants: a special procedure is described in Sources : CDC : https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/vaccination.html UK Government: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-the-green-book-chapter-14a WHO : https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/who-sage-roadmap-for-prioritizing-uses-of-covid-19-vaccines-in-the-context-of-limited-supply Hospital of Philadelphia : https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/making-vaccines/prevent-covid?utm_source=prevent-covid&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=VECCOVID Israeli Ministry of Health French College of Obstetricians

To this day, almost everyone knows someone who had a serious form of Covid-19 that is requiring hospitalization or even resuscitation, and many families have lost one or more loved ones. In addition, doctors have warned of the risk of collapse of the Healthcare system. In 2020, ethics and the need for care for the population do not allow us to consider this pandemic as benign. Regulatory agencies, FDA, EMA and MHRA and more agencies, have analyzed the vaccine development in real time and in an extremely rigorous manner. Efficacy results have been exceptional since the FDA required 60% efficacy and the new vaccines have demonstrated 95% efficacy with short-term safety comparable to other existing vaccines. This is a first of its kind in medicine. Of course, there are still unknowns about the long-term effects on efficacy and safety. Experts in all fields, including immunologists, hematologists and geneticists, have made the decision to give authorization to use these vaccines, weighing the benefits and the risks of the vaccine against the risk of the disease and emphasizing very close monitoring of the vaccinated individuals.

Summary of the Vaccine Safety Net Resources Author: Task Force on Vaccine Published: January 12, 2021 Ref: 0008 EN NB : In February the CDC and the EMA have published a first report on spontaneous adverse events reported since the beginning of the vaccination campaign . This question is currently under revision and will be updated soon. Minor to moderate secondary effects may occur after vaccination as they may occur after any vaccination; those side effects are a sign that the immune system is building up protection to the disease. They may affect your ability to do daily activities, but should resolve within a few days. The regulatory authorities in most countries have set up extensive monitoring of the vaccinated people and track continuously the eventual occurrence of rare unexpected events with COVID vaccines. In the clinical trials, the following side effects have been described: 1- Common side effects on the arm where you got the shot Pain Swelling Redness 2- Common side effects throughout the rest of the body Fever Chills Tiredness Headache Nausea 3- Uncommon side effects Malaise Lymph nodes swelling Since the start of the vaccination campaigns, moderate to severe allergic reactions have been observed and have led to Health authorities’ recommendations for the doctors to check carefully the benefit-risk for individuals, who have a history of severe allergic reaction or anaphylactic shock. For details go to the question “Who should get or not get the COVID vaccine”. TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS References FDA: https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-frequently-asked-questions CDC : https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/hcp/prepare.html CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html CanadianGovernement: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks.html#p UKGovernment:https://extranet.who.int/pqweb/sites/default/files/documents/QA_EUL_Covid-19_July2020.pdf ScienceMag : https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2020/12/04/get-ready-for-false-side-effects Vaccines today : https://www.vaccinestoday.eu/stories/the-first-covid-19-vaccine-is-here/ Health Feedback : https://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/no-evidence-that-covid-19-vaccines-cause-more-severe-disease-antibody-dependent-enhancement-has-not-been-observed-in-clinical-trials/

Vaccination with mRNA has nothing to do with gene therapy. Gene therapy introduces genetic material in order to correct or replace a defective gene, as a treatment of genetic disease or cancer. Pfizer vaccine mRNA enables cells to temporarily express the spike protein at their surface. It does not enter the nucleus. This limited exposure of the antigen is sufficient to trigger the immune response, without interference with cellular gene structure or function. This vaccine confers immunity by means of a single protein. It does not introduce an infectious agent, even inactivated, into the cells. This new technology therefore has definite advantages in terms of specificity and safety. Menahem Brégégère, PhD, Molecular biology & geneticsIrène Fermont, MD, Pharmacovigilance SHOW MORE

Authors: Menahem Brégégère, PhD, Molecular biology & genetics Irène Fermont, MD, Pharmacovigilance Published: January 12, 2021 Ref: 0026 EN Vaccination with mRNA has nothing to do with gene therapy. Gene therapy introduces genetic material in order to correct or replace a defective gene, as a treatment of genetic disease or cancer. Pfizer vaccine mRNA enables cells to temporarily express the spike protein at their surface. It does not enter the nucleus. This limited exposure of the antigen is sufficient to trigger the immune response, without interference with cellular gene structure or function. This vaccine confers immunity by means of a single protein. It does not introduce an infectious agent, even inactivated, into the cells. This new technology therefore has definite advantages in terms of specificity and safety. SHOW MORE

​​​​​​​Author: Task Force on Vaccine​​​​​​​ Published: January 12, 2021 Ref: 0002 EN To this day, almost everyone knows someone who had a serious form of Covid-19 that is requiring hospitalization or even resuscitation, and many families have lost one or more loved ones. In addition, doctors have warned of the risk of collapse of the Healthcare system. In 2020, ethics and the need for care for the population do not allow us to consider this pandemic as benign. Regulatory agencies, FDA, EMA and MHRA and more agencies, have analyzed the vaccine development in real time and in an extremely rigorous manner. Efficacy results have been exceptional since the FDA required 60% efficacy and the new vaccines have demonstrated 95% efficacy with short-term safety comparable to other existing vaccines. This is a first of its kind in medicine. Of course, there are still unknowns about the long-term effects on efficacy and safety. Experts in all fields, including immunologists, hematologists and geneticists, have made the decision to give authorization to use these vaccines, weighing the benefits and the risks of the vaccine against the risk of the disease and emphasizing very close monitoring of the vaccinated individuals.

Author:Daniel MALLER Published: 20/01/2021 Ref: 0003 EN The WHO Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety has established criteria to allow an objective definition of possible associations between vaccination and adverse events. They also apply to autoimmune disorders. The assessment of autoimmune events must be accurate, based on rigorous analytical methods and sufficient data. The occurrence of an adverse event shortly after vaccination may be purely coincidental but should be investigated very thoroughly. Such adverse events should only be considered as side effects if a significant association is demonstrated in well-conducted epidemiological studies in different populations to test hypotheses which have been put forward on the basis of isolated cases. There are only two autoimmune diseases where the association with vaccines has been proven and which occur very rarely: This is the case of Guillain-Barré syndrome (neuropathy) which is a known complication of influenza infection but occurs exceptionally after influenza vaccination. It is also the case of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (low blood platelets) which can be a fairly frequent complication of measles and rubella but rarely occurs after measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) - Theories have circulated and are still circulating about the long-term effects of vaccines, particularly the hepatitis B or measles vaccines. All of these claims have been disproved by numerous studies. - On the other hand, during the measles epidemics that broke out, serious complications and deaths were observed in children following these anti-vaccine campaigns. This is unacceptable because these tragedies could have been prevented by vaccination. Vaccination is one of the major advances of our century, preventing 2.5 million deaths worldwide every year. It has eradicated deadly and crippling diseases such as polio and smallpox. These are verifiable facts against which never-validated hypotheses have been opposed and which seriously hinder the eradication of diseases and epidemics. ____________________________________ [1]US Food & Drug Administration, "What is Gene Therapy". https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/cellular-gene-therapy-products/what-gene-therapy#:~:text=Human%20gene%20therapy%20seeks%20to,to%20treat%20or%20cure%20disease.&text=Replacing%20a%20disease%2Dcausing%20gene%20with%20a%20healthy%20copy%20of%20the%20gene [2]S. Brenner, F. Jacob et M. Meselson, « An unstable intermediate carrying information from genes to ribosomes for protein synthesis. », Nature, vol. 190,‎ 1961, p. 576-581. [3]National Human Genome Research Institute, "Messenger RNA". https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/messenger-rna . [4]N. Pardi, M. J. Hogan, F.W. Porter, and D. Weissman, "mRNA vaccines – a new era in vaccinology". Nature Reviews Drugs Discovery, vol. 17, 2018, p. 261-279. https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd.2017.243 [5]Corum, and C. Zimmer, "How the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Works". New York Times, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/health/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine.html . [6]B. Dupuy, "Experts: mRNA vaccine for COVID 19 does not alter RNA". AP News, September 4, 2020. https://apnews.com/article/9340521654. [7]Cambridge Dictionary, "Vaccine". https://dictionary.cambridge.org/fr/dictionnaire/anglais/vaccine [8]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Definition of terms: "Vaccine". https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/imz-basics.htm. [9]A. Telesnitsky, and S. P. Goff, "Reverse transcriptase and the generation of retroviral DNA". In: Retroviruses. Cold Spring Harbor (NY): Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1997. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19383/

The WHO Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety has established criteria to allow an objective definition of possible associations between vaccination and adverse events. They also apply to autoimmune disorders. The assessment of autoimmune events must be accurate, based on rigorous analytical methods and sufficient data. The occurrence of an adverse event shortly after vaccination may be purely coincidental but should be investigated very thoroughly. Such adverse events should only be considered as side effects if a significant association is demonstrated in well-conducted epidemiological studies in different populations to test hypotheses which have been put forward on the basis of isolated cases. There are only two autoimmune diseases where the association with vaccines has been proven and which occur very rarely: This is the case of Guillain-Barré syndrome (neuropathy) which is a known complication of influenza infection but occurs exceptionally after influenza vaccination. It is also the case of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (low blood platelets) which can be a fairly frequent complication of measles and rubella but rarely occurs after measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) Theories have circulated and are still circulating about the long-term effects of vaccines, particularly the hepatitis B or measles vaccines. All of these claims have been disproved by numerous studies. On the other hand, during the measles epidemics that broke out, serious complications and deaths were observed in children following these anti-vaccine campaigns. This is unacceptable because these tragedies could have been prevented by vaccination. Vaccination is one of the major advances of our century, preventing 2.5 million deaths worldwide every year. It has eradicated deadly and crippling diseases such as polio and smallpox. These are verifiable facts against which never-validated hypotheses have been opposed and which seriously hinder the eradication of diseases and epidemics.

Authors: Daniel Maller- Task Force Vaccine Published: 20/01/2021 Updated: 22/03/2021 Ref: 0010 EN The WHO Vaccine Safety Advisory Committee has established criteria to allow an objective definition of associations between vaccination and adverse reactions. They also apply to autoimmunity problems. The assessment of autoimmune events should be accurate, based on rigorous analytical methods and sufficient data. It may be a coincidence that a side effect appears soon after a vaccination. Such undesirable events should be considered as side effects only if a significant association is demonstrated by epidemiological studies on different populations, in order to verify the hypotheses put forward on the basis of isolated cases. There are only 3 rare autoimmune diseases for which an association with vaccines has been shown: Guillain-Barré syndrome (neuropathy) which is a known complication of influenza, and can occur exceptionally after vaccination against influenza. Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (low blood platelets) which is a fairly common complication of measles and rubella, exceptionally occurring after measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination. Narcolepsy, a sleep disorder characterized by an autoimmune attack of hypothalamic neurons, which was significantly associated with the 2009 H1N1 influenza epidemic, as a result of viral infection or vaccination with the Pandemrix vaccine. Otherwise, theories have circulated and still circulate on the long-term effects of vaccines, especially on the vaccines against hepatitis B and measles. All of these claims have been invalidated by numerous studies. During the measles epidemics that erupted as a result of these anti-vaccine campaigns, serious complications and children deaths have been observed. This is unacceptable because these tragedies could have been avoided by vaccination. Vaccination is one of the major advances of our time, which prevents 2.5 million deaths worldwide each year. It has eradicated deadly and crippling diseases such as polio and smallpox. These are verifiable facts against which unconfirmed hypotheses are set, that seriously undermine the eradication of diseases and epidemics. Références Wraith, D.C., Goldman, M., Lambert, P.H. Vaccination and autoimmune disease: what is the evidence ? Lancet 362, 1659-1666 (2003). Vellozzi, C., Iqbal, S., Broder, K. Guillain-Barré syndrome, influenza, and influenza vaccination: the epidemiologic evidence. Clinical Infectious diseases 58, 1149-1155 (2014). Cecinati, V., Principi, N., Brescia, L., et al. Vaccine administration and the development of thrombocytopenic purpura in children. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 9, 1158-1162 (2013). Partinen, M., Rahbek Kornum, B., Plazzi, G., et al. Narcolepsy as an autoimmune disease: the role of H1N1 infection and vaccination. Lancet Neurology 13, 600-613 (2014).

This muscle cell is not infected by a virus and therefore has no immunological reason to alert killer cells of the so-called cell-mediated immune response. It is also not a cancer cell against which immunotherapy, a somewhat different field than mRNA vaccination, would be initiated. The synthesized antibodies are not directed against a cell, which would make no sense, but against the antigenic protein S, which will only be able to alert the immune system once it has left the muscle cell. To know more see the article : about vaccines and autoimmune disease : here

Author: Ilan Bloch and Task Force Vaccine January 23, 2021 Ref: 0005 EN The liposomes in which the messenger RNA is enclosed are well tolerated by the body and used in 30% of tablet drugs, shampoos and toothpastes etc..... This is Polyethylene Glycol which is very widespread [1] Nanoparticles" are all particles between 1 and 100 nanometers in size - this is the order of magnitude of many viruses. Tolerance to nanoparticles depends largely on their composition. Some are highly toxic, such as those from tobacco smoke or diesel engines. The lipid nanoparticles used in messenger RNA vaccines are about 80 nanometers in size and are made of lipids similar to those found in the human body; they do not contain metals (silver, titanium, gold, etc...). Swissmedic [2], the Swiss drug regulatory agency, considers these lipid nanoparticles to be well tolerated by the body, as they are already used in several drugs approved in Switzerland (including drugs used in cancer treatment). Their medicinal use in Switzerland is strictly regulated by Swissmedic. References 1-Ref: *BJA. Allergic reactions to the first COVID-19 vaccine: is polyethylene glycol (PEG) the culprit? 2- infovac.ch - Swiss information plateform on viruses.

Summary of the Vaccine Safety Net resources Author: Task Force vaccine Published: 19/01/2021 Ref: 0007 EN What about medication? As for today, some treatments and medication help in assisting COVID patients but none of them has proven full efficacy in treating patients with severe symptoms and preventing complications or death. It is therefore crucial to stop the pandemic. But, as for today, no treatment has been proven effective to prevent the infection. What about vaccines? Clinical trials of the vaccines showed vaccinated persons were protected from getting Covid with a very high efficacy (up to 95% with the Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna vaccines) Therefore, the vaccine is the most advanced way to end the pandemic. What about the wearing of mask on mouth and nose and social distanciation*? Those measures help reduce our risks of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others, But, only associated to COVID vaccination, will those measures offer the best protection from COVID, *staying at least 6 feet/2 meters away from others. CDC : https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html

The coronavirus spreads primarily through droplets from your mouth and nose, especially when you cough or sneeze. Six feet has never been a magic number that guarantees complete protection. The C.D.C., one of the organizations using that measure, bases its recommendation on the idea that most large droplets that people expel when they cough or sneeze will fall to the ground within six feet. But some scientists have looked at studies of air flow and are concerned about smaller particles called aerosols. They suggest that people consider a number of factors, including their own vulnerability and whether they are outdoors or in an enclosed room, when deciding whether six feet is enough distance. Sneezes, for instance, can launch droplets a lot farther than six feet, according to a recent study. It's a rule of thumb: You should be safest standing six feet apart outside, especially when it's windy. But keep a mask on at all times, even when you think you’re far enough apart. Ref : New York Times : Answers to Your Current Coronavirus Questions Jamanetwork : Turbulent Gas Clouds and Respiratory Pathogen Emissions

Authors: Daniel Maller- Task Force Vaccine Published: 20/01/2021 Updated: 22/03/2021 Ref: 0004 EN Following injection of the vaccine, a small minority of muscle cells receive, not the virus, but one of its messenger RNAs, which will direct the synthesis of the "Spike" protein. The cells then expose this antigen on their surface and present it to the incoming immune cells, which identify it as foreign, and trigger a specific response of CD4 (helper) et CD8 (killer) T lymphocytes. The messenger RNA is quickly degraded, which stops the expression of the Spike protein: it is not renewed on the surface of the cells, and hence disappears rapidly. The immune response takes a few days to develop. The tiny minority of muscle cells that still display the Spike antigen on their surface are then eliminated by cytotoxic CD8 lymphocytes, and replaced according to the usual healing process. References Leitner, W.W., Ying, H., Restifo, N.P. DNA and RNA-based vaccines: principles, progress and prospects. Vaccine 18, 765-777 (1999). Pardi, N., Hogan, M.J., Porter, F.W., Weissman, D. mRNA vaccines – a new area in vaccinology. Nature Reviews – Drug Discovery 17, 261-279 (2018). Wiendl, H., Hohlfeld, R., Kieseier, B.C. Immunobiology of muscle: advances in understanding an immunological microenvironment. Trends in Immunology 26, 373-380 (2016).

It is the nature of science to make hypotheses and try to verify them. “A theory that is not refutable by any conceivable event is non-scientific. Irrefutability is not a virtue of a theory (as people often think) but a vice. (...) The criterion of the scientific status of a theory lies in its falsifiability, or refutability, or testability.“ (Karl Popper) In physics, for instance, a theory is valid as long as the results of the equations fit with the results of the experiments. In vaccine science, a vaccine is considered legitimate if it is safe and effective. It is scientifically correct to evaluate Covid vaccines according to these criteria and then to discuss the sample size and the monitoring time allowing to include these vaccines in the therapeutic arsenal. It is therefore normal and even recommended that scientists "argue". But it is dangerous for them to do so publicly because their field of expertise involves complex notions and a specific language that only them are able to understand. Putting up contradictory arguments is legitimate, but making it publicly invalidates public confidence. A physician or scientist should not use social networks to express theories in conflict with Public Health decisions, especially during a global pandemic. By doing so, he or she is participating in what he or she denounces.

Author: Task Force vaccine Published: 20/01/2021 Ref: 0012 EN The coronavirus spreads primarily through droplets from your mouth and nose, especially when you cough or sneeze. Six feet has never been a magic number that guarantees complete protection. The C.D.C., one of the organizations using that measure, bases its recommendation on the idea that most large droplets that people expel when they cough or sneeze will fall to the ground within six feet. But some scientists have looked at studies of air flow and are concerned about smaller particles called aerosols. They suggest that people consider a number of factors, including their own vulnerability and whether they are outdoors or in an enclosed room, when deciding whether six feet is enough distance. Sneezes, for instance, can launch droplets a lot farther than six feet, according to a recent study. It's a rule of thumb: You should be safest standing six feet apart outside, especially when it's windy. But keep a mask on at all times, even when you think you’re far enough apart. Ref : New York Times : Answers to Your Current Coronavirus Questions Jamanetwork : Turbulent Gas Clouds and Respiratory Pathogen Emissions

Summary of the Vaccine Safety Net Resources Author:Task Force Vaccine Published: 19/01/2021 Ref: 0010 EN COVID vaccines were developed at a record speed while maintaining standards for safety and efficacy. The reasons behind this rapid progress include: 1- Research had started years ago The biggest misconception is that the work on the vaccine started when the pandemic began but research on Coronaviruses and on anti-Coronaviruses vaccines started more than a decade ago. The collected data have been used in the COVID19 vaccine development. 2- mRNA technology Technology has evolved to make development faster. Previously, viral vaccines could only be developed after growing the virus in a laboratory. Newer technologies build vaccines using the genetic code for the virus; thus, researchers could start as soon as the genome for the virus was released in January 2020. 3- Pandemic make clinical trials progress quickly Clinical trials involve the comparison of both safety and efficacy of the tested vaccine on a vaccinated group and an unvaccinated group. They progress more quickly if a disease is widespread, as is the case with COVID-19 in many countries, as a significant difference between the unvaccinated and vaccinated groups can be detected sooner than for a rare disease. 4- Parallel steps instead of sequential steps The different clinical development steps (phases 1, 2 and 3), the building of the production facilities and the production of the vaccine itself have been handled in parallel, making the process faster. In addition, the regulatory review of the data has been conducted phase by phase, without waiting for the end of the whole process. 5- Unprecedented international funding and collaboration between vaccine developers and governments around the world. Huge financial risks have been taken, such as building manufacturing facilities before a vaccine was even available and funding the research on a very large scale. Funding was coming from governments, WHO, foundations and industry. To ensure global equity to the access of the vaccine, WHO is leading COVAX, a global research platform of 75 countries, pooling international resources, accelerating development, production, and giving equitable access to tests, treatments, and vaccines. Sources WHO : https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-vaccine-research-and-development CDC : https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/hcp/prepare.html Australian Government : https://www.ncirs.org.au/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine-development-landscape

Author: Task Force Vaccine Published: 24/01/2021 Update: 07/03/2021 Ref: 0024 EN No case of narcolepsy has been observed in clinical trials with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, nor has been subject of warning to health agencies since the vaccination campaign started. Cases of narcolepsy were observed during the 2009-2010 H1N1 influenza epidemics following vaccination with Pandemrix® influenza vaccine. The number of cases in Europe is estimated at 650 out of 19 million people vaccinated, i.e. around 3 per 100,000. It is therefore an extremely rare phenomenon. Pandemrix® influenza vaccine is an attenuated virus vaccine (fragmented virion, inactivated, with adjuvant). Its responsibility in recorded cases of narcolepsy has been much debated, particularly by the US CDC, but appeared to be confirmed primarily in children and adolescents. We will note that these two populations are not included in the vaccine strategy of anti-COVID19 vaccines, and that the Pandemrix® vaccine is the only vaccine that has been involved in cases of narcolepsy. Because the occurrence of narcolepsy was extremely low, the benefit / risk balance of vaccination with Pandemrix® was considered very favorable, compared to the risks of complications and death from influenza. These events are unrelated to mRNA vaccine technology or to COVID, which is a disease with a higher risk of death than seasonal influenza, and is affecting many more people. References: Nicolas Postel-Vinay, Narcolepsie post-vaccinale de type I, Société de Pneumologie de Langue Française, cf. : https://splf.fr/narcolepsie-postvaccinale-de-type-1, page consultée le 26/12/2020 Sarkanen TO, Alakuijala APE, Dauvilliers YA, Partinen MM. Incidence of narcolepsy after H1N1 influenza and vaccinations: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev. 2018 Apr;38: 177-186. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2017.06.006. Epub 2017 Jun 20. PMID: 28847694.0 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Narcolepsy Following 2009 Pandemrix Influenza Vaccination in Europe cf. : https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/history/narcolepsy-flu.html

Author:Task Force Vaccine Published: 24/01/2021 Update: 07/03/2021 Ref: 0025 EN Health Agencies (FDA, EMA, MHRA) have decades of experience in the area of vaccine safety. These agencies have granted an Emergency Use Authorization for two vaccines that have achieved excellent results in clinical trials, both in terms of efficacy (over 90%) and in terms of safety. Some questions remain (see section For more information), and there is, as always, a low risk of long-term, unwanted effects that were undetected in animal studies or in clinical trials. However, it is crucial that this potential risk, present in any vaccine or medication , be assessed in comparison with the known and proven risks of mortality and morbidity, direct and indirect, linked to COVID19. Monitoring of side effects (pharmacovigilance) has been greatly improved in most countries, particularly in Israel where 90% of medical data are digitized, which allows a quick detection of warning signals. To date (March 3, 2021 ), after more than 300 millions of vaccines doses have been administered, patients have been closely monitored, COVID vaccines are estimated to be particularly safe. It should also be noted that the rapid development of mRNA vaccines is a major innovation that could allow: very rapid editing and renewal of current vaccines when mutations emerge, development of new treatments for certain cancers. - The mRNA technology is a historical breakthrough in the history of the medicine which opens a large field of new research . It is believed that its features may help saving millions of human lives. For more information Additional studies are scheduled that will allow further elucidation of certain questions, such as: - How long does the vaccine provide immunity? - Can vaccinated people transmit the virus? - What categories of people that were insufficiently or not represented in clinical trials (such as children and pregnant women), should be vaccinated? Update: The pharmaco-epidemiologic data coming from the countries where vaccination has been implemented have started to answer some of these questions and will soon bring more answers. Israel is leading the mass vaccination and, having 90% of the medical data digitalized, has already: - confirmed the efficacy of the clinical trials when vaccination is performed in real life - confirmed the safety with no new signals - started to vaccinate pregnant women and teens over 16 years of age - observed a drastic decrease of infection in the vaccinated people - a decrease of serious cases or mortality n the population at risks

Author:Task Force on Vaccine Published: 25/01/2021 Update: 07/03/2021 Ref: 0023 EN The vaccine safety derives from its mechanism of action. Indeed : - Anti- COVID19 mRNA vaccines convey only one strand of messenger RNA instead of the whole viral RNA in a viral infection. This mRNA encodes only one protein, the Spike protein which is immunostimulant and non-pathogenic. The low risks associated with inactivated or attenuated viruses in conventional vaccines, are therefore irrelevant to these mRNA vaccines.The vaccine mRNA is free of all viral components,since it was synthesized in laboratories where the virus itself never entered. - After cell penetration, the vaccine mRNA remains in the cytoplasm, and being very labile, it is qickly eliminated. It never enters the nucleus, has no contact with DNA, and no access to the keys that allow interaction with DNA especially reverse transcriptase. This point is confirmed by all regulatory agencies that have granted emergency use authorization (FDA, EMA, MHRA.): mRNA does not enter the nucleus and it cannot act on the human genome. CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html

Author:Task Force Vaccine Published: 24/01/2021 Ref: 0025 EN Health Agencies (FDA, EMA, MHRA) have decades of experience in the area of vaccine safety. These agencies have granted an Emergency Use Authorization for two vaccines that have achieved excellent results in clinical trials, both in terms of efficacy (over 90%) and in terms of safety. Some questions remain (see section For more information), and there is, as always, a low risk that in the long term, unwanted effects will appear, never before observed in animal studies or in clinical trials. However, it is crucial that this hypothetical risk, exceptionally observed with other vaccines, be weighed against the known and proven risks of mortality and morbidity, direct and indirect, linked to COVID19. The systems for monitoring side effects (pharmacovigilance) have been greatly strengthened in most countries, and in particular in Israel, where 90% of medical data is digitized, which allows any warning signal to be detected very quickly. To date (January 8, 2021), after more than 17 millions of vaccinated patients closely monitored, COVID vaccines are estimated to be particularly safe. It should also be noted that the rapid development of mRNA vaccines is also a major innovation that could allow: The very rapid adaptation of existing vaccines when mutations emerge, the development of new vaccines and new treatments for certain cancers. This would thus help save millions of human lives. For more information Additional studies are scheduled and will allow further study of certain questions not yet fully elucidated, such as: For how long does the vaccine provide immunity? Can people who are vaccinated transmit the virus? What categories of people not represented in clinical trials (such as children, for example), or insufficiently represented in clinical trials, can be safely vaccinated?

Author: Daniel Maller and Task Force Published: 23/03/2021 Ref: 0033 EN No. The vaccine must be injected strictly intramuscularly. In subjects with a hemostasis or coagulation disorder, or in people on anticoagulants, the vaccination can be done in the deltoid muscle with a fine needle (ideally 25G), followed by strong and prolonged compression ( 2 minutes). People with particularly severe hemostasis or coagulation disorder, which is a contraindication to intramuscular injection, should not be vaccinated unless the potential benefit clearly outweighs the risks associated with the injection. References : Lowe, D. mRNA vaccines: What happens. Science Translational Medicine (21 January 2021). https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2021/01/21/mrna-vaccines-what-happens

Author:Task Force on Vaccine Published: 25/01/2021 Ref: 0023 EN The safety of the vaccine comes from its mechanism of action. Indeed : - The mRNA COVID19 vaccine conveys only one strand of messenger RNA, and not all of the viral RNA as in a viral infection. This mRNA encodes only one protein, the Spike protein, and this protein, which is the immunostimulant, is non-pathogenic. The extremely rare risks associated with the use of inactivated or attenuated viruses in conventional vaccines, therefore cannot occur with mRNA vaccines. The vaccine's mRNA cannot be contaminated by other elements of the virus because it was not extracted from the virus but synthesized in laboratories in which the virus itself has never been introduced. - This vaccine mRNA remains in the cytoplasm of the cell, and being very labile, it is eliminated very quickly. It does not enter the cell nucleus, is not in contact with its DNA, and does not contain any of the keys that would have allowed it to act on this DNA (and, in particular, no reverse transcriptase). This is confirmed by all regulatory agencies that have granted emergency use authorization (FDA, EMA, MHRA.): mRNA does not enter the nucleus and it cannot act on the human genome. CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html

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Summary of the Vaccine Safety Net Resources Author: Task Force Vaccine Published: 18/01/2021 Ref: 0006 EN All following results on efficacy in the clinical trials have been obtained in the same level, in all groups, ethnicities, and genders. Moderna vaccine Moderna vaccine efficacy was tested on 30,000-person. Only 11 who received the vaccine developed symptoms after being infected vs. 185 in a placebo group. That is an efficacy of 94.1%! Moderna’s vaccine showed 100% efficacy against severe forms of the disease: 0 such cases among those vaccinated vs. 30 in the placebo group, inc. 1 death from the disease. Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Pfizer vaccine was tested on 45,000-person and its efficacy was of 95%. Half participants received injections and half placebo. There were 8 cases of Covid among vaccinated people vs. 162 on placebo**. 10 severe cases occurred with just 1 in the vaccinated group. Further assessments More CDC and manufacturers assessments will take place to better understand the protection of the vaccines under real conditions, outside of clinical trials. Many factors can affect effectiveness in real-world situations like the way a vaccine is transported and stored, the way patients are vaccinated etc... Complementary studies will help to furthermore explore questions such as: how long will the vaccine provide protection? can vaccinated people transmit the virus? which categories of people among those who were not included or not well represented in the clinical trials could safely be vaccinated? FDA : Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for an Unapproved Product Review Memorandum https://www.fda.gov/media/144416/download UK Government : COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-the-green-book-chapter-14a New England Journal of Medicine: Safety and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2034577 ScienceMag : ‘Absolutely remarkable’: No one who got Moderna’s vaccine in trial developed severe COVID-19 https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/absolutely-remarkable-no-one-who-got-modernas-vaccine-trial-developed-severe-covid-19

What about medication? As for today, some treatments and medication help in assisting COVID patients but none of them has proven full efficacy in treating patients with severe symptoms and preventing complications or death. It is therefore crucial to stop the pandemic. But, as for today, no treatment has been proven effective to prevent the infection. What about vaccines? Clinical trials of the vaccines showed vaccinated persons were protected from getting Covid with a very high efficacy (up to 95% with the Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna vaccines) Therefore, the vaccine is the most advanced way to end the pandemic. What about the wearing of mask on mouth and nose and social distanciation*? Those measures help reduce our risks of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others, But, only associated to COVID vaccination, will those measures offer the best protection from COVID, *staying at least 6 feet/2 meters away from others. CDC : https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html

Author:Task Force Vaccine Published: 20/01/2021 Ref: 0001 EN It is the nature of science to make hypotheses and try to verify them. “A theory that is not refutable by any conceivable event is non-scientific. Irrefutability is not a virtue of a theory (as people often think) but a vice. (...) The criterion of the scientific status of a theory lies in its falsifiability, or refutability, or testability.“ (Karl Popper) In physics, for instance, a theory is valid as long as the results of the equations fit with the results of the experiments. In vaccine science, a vaccine is considered legitimate if it is safe and effective. It is scientifically correct to evaluate Covid vaccines according to these criteria and then to discuss the sample size and the monitoring time allowing to include these vaccines in the therapeutic arsenal. It is therefore normal and even recommended that scientists "argue". But it is dangerous for them to do so publicly because their field of expertise involves complex notions and a specific language that only them are able to understand. Putting up contradictory arguments is legitimate, but making it publicly invalidates public confidence. A physician or scientist should not use social networks to express non-evidence based theories in conflict with Public Health decisions, especially during a global pandemic. By doing so, he or she is participating in what he or she denounces.

Author: Menahem Bregegere,PhD, Contributors: Irene Fermont MD, MSC, Ayalah Livneh MD, MSc Published : 31 January 2021 Update: 07/03/2021 0027 EN Virus mutations are errors in the replication of their genetic material. Most are harmless, but some can change virulence, and/or virus susceptibility to the immune response.(1) The COVID-19 "Spike" is a strategic protein, by which the virus binds to the "ACE2" receptor of the cells it infects, in order to enter them. Spike affinity for the receptor is accountable for virulence.(2) Spike is the preferred target of anti-viral immunity. Therefore Pfizer and Moderna have chosen its messenger RNA as the active ingredient of their vaccine, in order to trigger an intense and well-targeted immune response.(3) In September 2020, a high virulence variant of COVID-19, "B.1.1.7", appeared in Great Britain. It has spread rapidly, and is accountable today for the majority of new infections in Israel. This variant contains 17 mutations, compared with the original Wuhan strain, including several in the receptor binding domain of Spike – the area of contact with the cell it infects. These mutations are likely to increase virulence.(4) They are also likely to let the virus escape the immunity acquired from a primary infection with the original virus, or from a vaccination. However, laboratory experiments with the B1.1.7 variant showed that the neutralizing power of antisera from convalescent COVID, or from people vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, was barely attenuated.(5) The protection provided by the vaccines against this variant is therefore essentially intact. The main problem raised by B1.1.7 is its high transmissibility, which increases contagion and multiplies the number of patients at all levels of severity.(6) In addition, health authorities also raise the possibility of higher virulence, with serious complications observed in pregnant women, and possibly also in children,(7) (8). Finally, preliminary results suggest that this variant tends to increase COVID severity and death rate.(9) 1) cles/d41586-020-02544-6 Callaway, E. 2020. Making sense of coronavirus mutations. Nature 585, 174-178. https://www.nature.com/arti 2) Starr, T. N., Greaney, A. J., Hilton, S. K., et al. 2020. Deep mutational scanning of SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain reveals constraints on folding and ACE2 binding. Cell 182 (5) 1295-1310. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(20)31003-5 3) Du, L., He, Y., Zhou, Y., et al. 2009. The spike protein of SARS CoV – a target for vaccine and therapeutic development. Nature Reviews Microbiology 7, 226-236. https://www.nature.com/articles/nrmicro2090 4) Corum, J., Zimmer, C. 2021. Inside the B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant. The New York Times (18/01/2021. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/health/coronavirus-mutations-B117-variant.html 5) Muik, A., Wallischn A. K., Sänger, B., et al. 2O21. Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 pseudovirus by BNT162b2 vaccine-elicited sera. Science 10.1126/science.abg6105 (2021) https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/01/28/science.abg6105 6) Galloway, S. E., Prabasaj, P., Mac Cannel, D. R., et al. 2021. Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 Lineage — United States, December 29, 2020–January 12, 2021. CDC – Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7003e2.htm 7) Christensen, J. 2021. CDC doesn't know if new Covid-19 variants are causing rare complication in children. CNN Health (27/01/2021) https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/27/health/new-covid-variant-complications-children-wellness/index.html 8) Jaffe-Hoffman, M. 2021. Coronavirus: Gov't to vote on full closure of airport today. Jerusalem Post (24/01/2021) https://www.jpost.com/health-science/coronavirus-six-pregnant-women-in-serious-condition-have-uk-variant-656461 9) Iacobucci, G. 2021. Covid-19: New UK variant may be linked to increased death rate, early data indicate. British Medical Journal, 372, n230 https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n230 Another variant appeared in South Africa in October 2020, named "501Y.V2". This variant has some mutations of the Spike in common with B.1.1.7, as well as an increased transmissibility, and it has more mutations in the Spike (8 in all) (10) , that allow it to partially escape immunity acquired from a primary infection(11). Laboratory studies have shown that sera from people who have received Pfizer or Moderna vaccines partially neutralize viruses carrying the 501.Y.V2 mutations (12) (13). But these results cannot simply be extrapolated to real life, leaving us in doubt about the effectiveness of these vaccines on the variant. Other variants with increased transmissibility have appeared, notably the Brazilian variant P.1, which has many features in common with 501.Y.V2 although it appeared independently;(14) the California variant CAL.20C, which shares mutations with B.1.1.7;(15) and probably others still, which have not yet been characterized. All these variants are already present in Israel, although in marginal amounts, and are expected to spread in the coming period. They therefore constitute a challenge that we will have to take in the near future. To achieve this, vaccines and social distancing measures are good tools. A major advantage of the mRNA vaccine is its adaptability: virus attempts to evade immunity can be thwarted by using an mRNA where variant mutations have been introduced. The site-directed mutagenesis technique makes this possible in a very simple manner.(16) Therefore Ugur Sahin, CEO of BioNTech, could say that he was "technically capable of delivering a new vaccine in six weeks".(17) The battle against the pandemic is therefore not over. It is well underway, but we have not yet won the war. 10) Tegally, H., Wilkinson, E., Giovanetti, M., et al. 2020. Emergence and rapid spread of a new severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lineage with multiple spike mutations in South Africa. medRxiv Preprint doi: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.12.21.20248640v1 11) Wibmer, C. K., Ayres, F., Hermanus, T., et al. 2021. SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 escapes neutralization by South African COVID-19 donor plasma. bioRxiv Preprint doi: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.18.427166v2 12) Pfizer. In vitro studies demonstrate Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine elicits antibodies that netralize SARS-CoV-2 with key mutations present in U.K. and South African variants. 27/01/2021. https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/vitro-studies-demonstrate-pfizer-and-biontech-covid-19 13) Moderna Inc. Moderna COVID-19 vaccine retains neutralizing activity against emerging variants first identified in the U.K. and the Republic of South Africa. 25/01/2021. https://investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/moderna-covid-19-vaccine-retains-neutralizing-activity-against/ 14) Faria, N., Claro, I. M., Candido, D., et al. 2020. Genomic characterisation of an emergent SARS-CoV-2 lineage in Manaus: preliminary findings. Virological.org. https://virological.org/t/genomic-characterisation-of-an-emergent-sars-cov-2-lineage-in-manaus-preliminary-findings/586 15) Zhang, W., Davis, B. D., Chen, S. S., et al. 2021. Emergence of a novel SARS-CoV-2 strain in Southern California, USA. medRxiv Preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.18.21249786 16) Hemsley, A, Arnheim, N., Toney, M. D., et al. 1989. A simple method for site-directed mutagenesis using the polymerase chain reaction. Nucleic Acids Research 17 (16), 6545-6551. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2674899/ 17) Jordans, F. 2020. BioNTech CEO confident vaccine will work on UK variant. AP News, December 22, 2020. https://apnews.com/article/europe-europe-coronavirus-pandemic-united-states-8555f433c0cd8ea8c58040e3f7aa0e91

Author: Task Force Vaccine Published: 19/01/2021 Ref: 0017 EN Questions have been recently raised related to the fertility of women receiving the Covid-19 Vaccine. While some studies have attempted to address the issue of reproductive impact of patients with Covid-19 (biological and psychobehavioral)[1], we present below what is known to date... READ MORE

Questions have been recently raised related to the fertility of women receiving the Covid-19 Vaccine. While some studies have attempted to address the issue of reproductive impact of patients with Covid-19 (biological and psychobehavioral)[1], we present below what is known to date... READ MORE

Summary of the Vaccine Safety Net Resources Author: Task Force Vaccine Published: 24/01/2021 Ref: 0009 EN - Reports on social media have falsely asserted that the vaccine could cause infertility in women. It has been feared that this misinformation may cause women to avoid vaccination to prevent COVID-19, which is a potentially serious and life-threatening disease. - There is no scientific evidence to suggest that the vaccine could cause infertility in women. - In addition, infertility doesn’t occur as a result of COVID disease, demonstrating that immune responses to the virus, induced by infection or vaccine, cannot become a cause of infertility. - The vaccine mechanism involves an immune reaction against the so-called Spike protein, a characteristic protein of the COVID 19. Contrary to false reports on social media, this protein to which the body opposes is not the same as any other protein involved in the formation of the placenta. Source: FDA : https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-frequently-asked-questions

Task Force 02/03/2021 Ref: 0035 EN Regarding the unborn child, some studies suggest that there is an increased risk of prematurity, intrauterine growth retardation or neonatal death. While SARS-CoV-2 infection may be a contributing factor, factors specific to the mother or to the course of the pregnancy may also be involved. As the studies available on the subject are still incomplete, it is advisable to be careful and to ensure a good follow-up of the pregnancy. The potential impact of the virus earlier in pregnancy has also been poorly studied to date. So far, transmission of the virus in utero to the unborn child has only been reported and confirmed in two pregnant women, according to international literature. The scientific community remains cautious, believing that if this route of transmission is possible, it is very rare. In practice, the virus is transmitted more often in the very first hours after birth, through direct contact between the infected mother and her newborn. The course of the disease in the newborn is not serious in the vast majority of cases. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/pregnancy-and-covid-19/art-20482639

Authors: Raphaelle Beau Ledjstrom PhD, Irene Fermont,MD,MSC Published: 31/01/2021 Update: 23/03/2021 Ref: 0037 EN Pregnant and lactating women were not initially included in the phase 2-3 trials of the mRNA vaccines. Use during pregnancy and lactation therefore appears as missing information. However, 36 pregnancies occurring during the trial were reported during follow-up (18 for the vaccine arm versus 18 for the placebo when the Pfizer / BioNtech and Moderna data are added together). The results have not shown any imbalance of new pregnancies between the two arms (vaccine versus placebo) and to date no significant pregnancy problem that could be related to the vaccination. However, 36 pregnancies occurred during the follow-up (18 among those who received the vaccine, and 18 among those who received the placebo, when Pfizer / BioNtech and Moderna data are merged). To date, the results have not shown imbalance of pregnancy numbers between the two groups (vaccine versus placebo), nor significant complications attributable to vaccination, albeit pregnancy follow-up has been short, and data is still limited at this stage. After the spread of new variants, and the increase in serious symptoms and death in pregnant women, they are now considered as a population at risk. The journal Nature reports a study from September 2020, carried out on 11,400 women hospitalized for COVID 19, which shows that the probability of being admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) is 62% higher for pregnant women at the same age, while the probability of being placed on a respirator is 88% higher. Another study has shown that pregnant women who contract COVID 19 are three times more likely to give birth preterm. Taking this into account, the Israeli Ministry of Health has issued the following guidelines: There is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine has any harmful effects either to the fetus or to the course of pregnancy, at any stage of the pregnancy, and there is no recognized biological mechanism that may indicate such a possibility. It is recommended to vaccinate breastfeeding women. It is recommended that women who are planning a pregnancy or who are undergoing fertility treatments complete the two vaccine doses before the beginning of the pregnancy. In the case of a woman who received the first vaccine dose and then discovered that she is pregnant, it is recommended that she will receive the second vaccine dose according to the regular vaccination schedule. We recommend vaccinating pregnant women who are considered as being at high-risk for infection (healthcare workers or any other group defined as high-risk by the Ministry of Health) or being at risk for severe illness (due to such pre-existing conditions as: obesity, pre-maternal diabetes, hypertension, etc.). It is our recommendation to vaccinate all pregnant women in their second or third trimester. The first trimester (regardless of coronavirus disease) is characterized by a relatively high rate of bleeding incidents, spontaneous miscarriage, and the appearance of fetal abnormalties. In order to prevent ant link, albeit incidental, between vaccination and these phenomena, it is our recommendation only to vaccinate pregnant women who do not belong to any of the high-risk groups detailed in article 5 above, starting at the second trimester. In case of women who plan to undergo an amniotic fluid test, it is recommended that they refrain from vaccination around the time of the scheduled test (it is recommended to leave a buffer of at least one week between the vaccination and the test) in order to avoid fever or any other side effects which may be interpreted as complications to the tests. Due to the severity of the coronavirus disease and its harmful effects, we reiterate our recommendation for the entire population, and women in the age of fertility, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women in particular, to continue following the social distancing and masking rules and thereby reduce their risk for exposure and infection with coronavirus disease. Références: 1. Subbaraman, N. How does COVID affact mother and baby? Nature 591, 193-195 (2021).

Vaccine Safety Net Resources Author: Task Force Vaccine Published: 20/01/2021 Ref: 0016 EN FALSE! No data suggests that vaccines could cause severe diseases. The vaccinated participants in the vaccine trials do not show a higher rate of severe illness compared to unvaccinated participants. The mRNA vaccines do not contain or induce the production of any pathogen substance; they do not contain any virus or any part of it and have been synthesized in laboratories or in manufacturing facilities where the virus has never been introduced. Post vaccinal follow-up is carefully monitored in order to detect the eventual occurrence of any uncommon side effect. _______________________ Sources: WHO:https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines Health Feedback independent Professors:No evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause more severe disease; antibody-dependent enhancement has not been observed in clinical trialshttps://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/no-evidence-that-covid-19-vaccines-cause-more-severe-disease-antibody-dependent-enhancement-has-not-been-observed-in-clinical-trials/ Finnish Government:Vaccines and coronavirus https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/transmission-and-protection-coronavirus/vaccines-and-coronavirus Hospital of Philadelphia:Questions and Answers about COVID-19 Vaccines https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/making-vaccines/prevent-covid?utm_source=prevent-covid&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=VECCOVID

FALSE No data suggests that vaccines could cause severe diseases. The vaccinated participants in the vaccine trials do not show a higher rate of severe illness compared to unvaccinated participants. The mRNA vaccines do not contain or induce the production of any pathogen substance; they do not contain any virus or any part of it and have been synthesized in laboratories or in manufacturing facilities where the virus has never been introduced. Post vaccinal follow-up is carefully monitored in order to detect the eventual occurrence of any uncommon side effect. _______________________ Sources: WHO:https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines Health Feedback independent Professors:No evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause more severe disease; antibody-dependent enhancement has not been observed in clinical trialshttps://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/no-evidence-that-covid-19-vaccines-cause-more-severe-disease-antibody-dependent-enhancement-has-not-been-observed-in-clinical-trials/ Finnish Government:Vaccines and coronavirus https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/transmission-and-protection-coronavirus/vaccines-and-coronavirus Hospital of Philadelphia:Questions and Answers about COVID-19 Vaccines https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/making-vaccines/prevent-covid?utm_source=prevent-covid&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=VECCOVID

FALSE None of these unwanted components are present in the mRNA vaccines such as live viruses, inactivated viruses, gluten, egg proteins, pork products, foetal material, blood product, DNA, antibiotics, preservatives like thimerosal, adjuvants. The approval of the vaccines by Regulatory Health agencies like the FDA, the EMA etc. warrant their composition. __________________________ Sources: WHO:https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines Health Feedback independent Professors:No evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause more severe disease; antibody-dependent enhancement has not been observed in clinical trialshttps://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/no-evidence-that-covid-19-vaccines-cause-more-severe-disease-antibody-dependent-enhancement-has-not-been-observed-in-clinical-trials/ Finnish Government:Vaccines and coronavirus https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/transmission-and-protection-coronavirus/vaccines-and-coronavirus Hospital of Philadelphia:Questions and Answers about COVID-19 Vaccines https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/making-vaccines/prevent-covid?utm_source=prevent-covid&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=VECCOVID

Vaccine Safety Net Resources Author: Task Force Vaccine Published: 20/01/2021 Ref: 0013 EN FALSE! None of these unwanted components are present in the mRNA vaccines such as live viruses, inactivated viruses, gluten, egg proteins, pork products, foetal material, blood product, DNA, antibiotics, preservatives like thimerosal, adjuvants. The approval of the vaccines by Regulatory Health agencies like the FDA, the EMA etc. warrant their composition. __________________________ Sources: WHO:https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines Health Feedback independent Professors:No evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause more severe disease; antibody-dependent enhancement has not been observed in clinical trialshttps://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/no-evidence-that-covid-19-vaccines-cause-more-severe-disease-antibody-dependent-enhancement-has-not-been-observed-in-clinical-trials/ Finnish Government:Vaccines and coronavirus https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/transmission-and-protection-coronavirus/vaccines-and-coronavirus Hospital of Philadelphia:Questions and Answers about COVID-19 Vaccines https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/making-vaccines/prevent-covid?utm_source=prevent-covid&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=VECCOVID

Vaccine Safety Net Resources Author: Task Force Vaccine ​​​​​​​Published: 20/01/2021 Ref: 0014 EN FALSE! There is absolutely no way that 5G mobile phone signals could either transmit the virus or reduce our defences to it. Viruses cannot travel on radio waves/mobile networks. In fact, COVID is spreading in many countries that do not have 5G. There is absolutely no connection between 5G networks and vaccines. Vaccines can’t be “activated “by 5G to harm people. ________________________ Sources: WHO:https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines Health Feedback independent Professors:No evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause more severe disease; antibody-dependent enhancement has not been observed in clinical trialshttps://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/no-evidence-that-covid-19-vaccines-cause-more-severe-disease-antibody-dependent-enhancement-has-not-been-observed-in-clinical-trials/ Finnish Government:Vaccines and coronavirus https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/transmission-and-protection-coronavirus/vaccines-and-coronavirus Hospital of Philadelphia:Questions and Answers about COVID-19 Vaccines https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/making-vaccines/prevent-covid?utm_source=prevent-covid&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=VECCOVID

FALSE There is absolutely no way that 5G mobile phone signals could either transmit the virus or reduce our defences to it. Viruses cannot travel on radio waves/mobile networks. In fact, COVID is spreading in many countries that do not have 5G. There is absolutely no connection between 5G networks and vaccines. Vaccines can’t be “activated “by 5G to harm people. ________________________ Sources: WHO:https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines Health Feedback independent Professors:No evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause more severe disease; antibody-dependent enhancement has not been observed in clinical trialshttps://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/no-evidence-that-covid-19-vaccines-cause-more-severe-disease-antibody-dependent-enhancement-has-not-been-observed-in-clinical-trials/ Finnish Government:Vaccines and coronavirus https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/transmission-and-protection-coronavirus/vaccines-and-coronavirus Hospital of Philadelphia:Questions and Answers about COVID-19 Vaccines https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/making-vaccines/prevent-covid?utm_source=prevent-covid&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=VECCOVID

Vaccine Safety Net Resources Author: Task Force Vaccine Published: 20/01/2021 Ref: 0015 EN FALSE ! The approval of the vaccines by Regulatory Health agencies like the FDA, the EMA etc. warrant their composition. _________________________ Sources: WHO:https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines Health Feedback independent Professors:No evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause more severe disease; antibody-dependent enhancement has not been observed in clinical trialshttps://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/no-evidence-that-covid-19-vaccines-cause-more-severe-disease-antibody-dependent-enhancement-has-not-been-observed-in-clinical-trials/ Finnish Government:Vaccines and coronavirus https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/transmission-and-protection-coronavirus/vaccines-and-coronavirus Hospital of Philadelphia:Questions and Answers about COVID-19 Vaccines https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/making-vaccines/prevent-covid?utm_source=prevent-covid&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=VECCOVID

FALSE The approval of the vaccines by Regulatory Health agencies like the FDA, the EMA etc. warrant their composition. _________________________ Sources: WHO:https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines Health Feedback independent Professors:No evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause more severe disease; antibody-dependent enhancement has not been observed in clinical trialshttps://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/no-evidence-that-covid-19-vaccines-cause-more-severe-disease-antibody-dependent-enhancement-has-not-been-observed-in-clinical-trials/ Finnish Government:Vaccines and coronavirus https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/transmission-and-protection-coronavirus/vaccines-and-coronavirus Hospital of Philadelphia:Questions and Answers about COVID-19 Vaccines https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/making-vaccines/prevent-covid?utm_source=prevent-covid&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=VECCOVID

Vaccine Safety Net Resources Author: Task Force Vaccine Published: 21/01/2021 Ref: 0018 EN FALSE ! Research on mRNA vaccines began in the 1990s. Over the last ten years or so, numerous animal and human trials have been carried out, particularly during epidemics of two coronaviruses, SARS-CoV (2002-2003) and MERS-CoV (2012). A large amount of data has been collected and these data demonstrated the safety and efficacy of these mRNA vaccines. TO KNOW MORE

FALSE Research on mRNA vaccines began in the 1990s. Over the last ten years or so, numerous animal and human trials have been carried out, particularly during epidemics of two coronaviruses, SARS-CoV (2002-2003) and MERS-CoV (2012). A large amount of data has been collected and these data demonstrated the safety and efficacy of these mRNA vaccines. TO KNOW MORE

FALSE In a review published in the journal Nature in April 2018 [1], numerous clinical trials, completed or in progress, using mRNA technology were already listed (10 trials in the framework of vaccine studies and more than fifty for the treatment of certain cancers). In addition, studies of the mRNA-based COVID vaccine have enrolled more than 70,000 volunteers [2,3]. For the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine alone, 43,734 volunteers were enrolled in the clinical trials: 21,937 received the vaccine and 21,797 received a placebo, providing sufficient data for Health Authorities to assess the vaccine's efficacy and safety and, following a rigorous review, to grant an Emergency Use Authorisation. ______________________________ Ref: 1-Pardi N, Hogan MJ, Porter FW, Weissman D. mRNA vaccines – a new era in vaccinology. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2018 Apr;17(4):261-279. doi: 10.1038/nrd.2017.243. Epub 2018 Jan 12. PMID: 29326426; PMCID: PMC5906799 2-Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting, 2-2- December 10, 2020 FDA Briefing Document, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine cf.: https://www.fda.gov/media/144245/download 3- Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting, December 17, 2020, FDA Briefing Document Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine cf.: https://www.fda.gov/media/144434/download

Author: Task Force Vaccine Published: 20/01/2021 Ref : 0019 EN FALSE ! In a review published in the journal Nature in April 2018 [1], numerous clinical trials, completed or in progress, using mRNA technology were already listed (10 trials in the framework of vaccine studies and more than fifty for the treatment of certain cancers). In addition, studies of the mRNA-based COVID vaccine have enrolled more than 70,000 volunteers [2,3]. For the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine alone, 43,734 volunteers were enrolled in the clinical trials: 21,937 received the vaccine and 21,797 received a placebo, providing sufficient data for Health Authorities to assess the vaccine's efficacy and safety and, following a rigorous review, to grant an Emergency Use Authorisation. ______________________________ Sources: 1-Pardi N, Hogan MJ, Porter FW, Weissman D. mRNA vaccines – a new era in vaccinology. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2018 Apr;17(4):261-279. doi: 10.1038/nrd.2017.243. Epub 2018 Jan 12. PMID: 29326426; PMCID: PMC5906799 2-Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting, 2-2- December 10, 2020 FDA Briefing Document, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine cf.: https://www.fda.gov/media/144245/download 3- Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting, December 17, 2020, FDA Briefing Document Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine cf.: https://www.fda.gov/media/144434/download

FALSE The only adverse events that occurred in the volunteers tested in the study were minor and transient effects that are usually observed with other vaccinations [1,2]. Let's clarify the terms: “Potential risk” is when an adverse reaction has occurred in animal studies BUT not in human clinical trials, or when an adverse reaction is known to be induced by a medicinal product of the same therapeutic class than the study product, BUT has not been observed in the study product (EMA, 2012 Good Pharmacovigilance Practices Annex I). A single potential risk has been identified in the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine file: namely, an exacerbation of the disease within a very short period of time after injection. This phenomenon has been observed after the administration of other vaccines BUT has never been observed in clinical trials of COVID vaccines. Post-vaccine surveillance will, of course, monitor this potential risk very carefully. To say that mRNA vaccines pose additional potential risks (without even, defining their nature) is therefore false affirmation. These unspecified potential risks are unsubstantiated assumptions that are not supported by any information in the vaccine's license application from the U.S. FDA and European health authorities (EMA and MHRA). To know more… These hypothetical risks, not observed to date in animal or human studies, must be weighed against the verified facts: On the one hand, the identified, known and high risk of contamination by COVID 19, i.e. a virus responsible for 1.76 million deaths in 2020 (more than 3,527 deaths as of January 6, 2021 in Israel). On the other hand, the efficacy and safety of the COVID vaccines that have been granted an emergency authorization by experts from Health Agencies (including those from the Food & Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency, etc.) after an extremely rigorous analysis of the benefit/risk ratio. In addition, the efficacy and safety of these vaccines continue to be monitored by a close post-vaccination surveillance. _______________________________________________ 1-FDA, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, cf.:https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine 2-FDA, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/moderna-covid-19-vaccine 3-European Medicines Agency, Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP) Annex I – Definitions (Rev 4) cf.: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/scientific-guideline/guideline-good-pharmacovigilance-practices-annex-i-definitions-rev-4_en.pdf

Vaccine Safety Net Resources Author: Task Force Vaccine Published: 21/01/2021 Ref: 0020 EN FALSE ! The only adverse events that occurred in the volunteers tested in the study were minor and transient effects that are usually observed with other vaccinations [1,2]. Let's clarify the terms: Potential risk” is when an adverse reaction has occurred in animal studies BUT not in human clinical trials, or when an adverse reaction is known to be induced by a medicinal product of the same therapeutic class than the study product, BUT has not been observed in the study product (EMA, 2012 Good Pharmacovigilance Practices Annex I). A single potential risk has been identified in the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine file: namely, an exacerbation of the disease within a very short period of time after injection. This phenomenon has been observed after the administration of other vaccines BUT has never been observed in clinical trials of COVID vaccines. Post-vaccine surveillance will, of course, monitor this potential risk very carefully. To say that mRNA vaccines pose additional potential risks (without even, defining their nature) is therefore false affirmation. These unspecified potential risks are unsubstantiated assumptions that are not supported by any information in the vaccine's license application from the U.S. FDA and European health authorities (EMA and MHRA). To know more… These hypothetical risks, not observed to date in animal or human studies, must be weighed against the verified facts: On the one hand, the identified, known and high risk of contamination by COVID 19, i.e. a virus responsible for 1.76 million deaths in 2020 (more than 3,527 deaths as of January 6, 2021 in Israel). On the other hand, the efficacy and safety of the COVID vaccines that have been granted an emergency authorization by experts from Health Agencies (including those from the Food & Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency, etc.) after an extremely rigorous analysis of the benefit/risk ratio. In addition, the efficacy and safety of these vaccines continue to be monitored by a close post-vaccination surveillance. _Sources:______________________________________________ 1-FDA, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, cf.:https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine 2-FDA, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/moderna-covid-19-vaccine 3-European Medicines Agency, Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP) Annex I – Definitions (Rev 4) cf.:https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/scientific-guideline/guideline-good-pharmacovigilance-practices-annex-i-definitions-rev-4_en.pdf

Vaccine Safety Net Resources Author: Task Force Vaccine Published: 18/01/2021 Ref: 0021 EN FALSE ! In the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine trial mentioned in the FDA Briefing, it is stated that: 1712 patients over 75 years of age were included in the clinical trials, i.e. 4.3% of the total number (Table 4, p. 20) and that none of them subsequently contracted COVID 19 versus 5 in the placebo group (Table 9, p. 28). In addition, the Moderna group published similar results by including 1299 people over 75 years of age among its volunteers. Although these figures are not sufficient to certify the efficacy of the vaccine on the elderly, they are encouraging and consistent with the results observed in the lower age categories [1]. It is, moreover, important to note the similarity of the results of the two clinical trials in this age category [2]. Even if the immune response were short, which is not proven, these vaccines could, if used quickly, save hundreds of thousands of lives before the end of the COVID 19 epidemic. ____________________ References: Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting, December 10, 2020 FDA Briefing Document, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine cf.: https://www.fda.gov/media/144245/download 2-Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting, December 17, 2020, FDA Briefing Document Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine cf.: https://www.fda.gov/media/144434/download

FALSE In the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine trial mentioned in the FDA Briefing, it is stated that: 1712 patients over 75 years of age were included in the clinical trials, i.e. 4.3% of the total number (Table 4, p. 20) and that none of them subsequently contracted COVID 19 versus 5 in the placebo group (Table 9, p. 28). In addition, the Moderna group published similar results by including 1299 people over 75 years of age among its volunteers. Although these figures are not sufficient to certify the efficacy of the vaccine on the elderly, they are encouraging and consistent with the results observed in the lower age categories [1]. It is, moreover, important to note the similarity of the results of the two clinical trials in this age category [2]. Even if the immune response were short, which is not proven, these vaccines could, if used quickly, save hundreds of thousands of lives before the end of the COVID 19 epidemic. ____________________ Ref Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting, December 10, 2020 FDA Briefing Document, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine cf.: https://www.fda.gov/media/144245/download 2-Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting, December 17, 2020, FDA Briefing Document Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine cf.: https://www.fda.gov/media/144434/download

Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines can no longer be qualified as "experimental" vaccines at this stage. They now hold an Emergency Use Authorization granted by Health Agencies after a rigorous review of basic research data, animal studies results, and clinical trials Phase 1, 2, and 3 results,involving a very large number of volunteers. There is an international consensus, adopted by a large number of countries and published on the WHO and National Health Authority websites, concerning the vaccination policy to be implemented: this consists of giving priority to those most at risk of contracting a serious form of COVID and to those most exposed to contamination. This is indeed what is done, at least in Western countries. To know more… It is essential to remind that vaccination campaigns do not aim to immediately vaccinate the entire population (mass vaccination) but proceed with caution; the vaccination program will proceed as follows: Giving priority to people at risk (elderly and/or suffering from co-morbidities, healthcare personnel, essential workers, etc.). Waiting to vaccinate people whose profile has not been represented in clinical trials (children under 16 years of age, for example) and to do so only if the results of additional studies allow it. And, of course, not to vaccinate people for whom vaccination is contraindicated (immunosuppressed for example) or not recommended. Finally, pharmaceutical companies producing the COVID vaccines are required to conduct a thorough post-vaccination monitoring in order to detect the occurrence of possible adverse events (phase 4 studies). This monitoring of vaccinated individuals complements the very close and reinforced monitoring conducted by the Health Authorities as part of their Pharmacovigilance system.

Vaccine Safety Net Resources Author: Task Force Vaccine Published: 19/01/2021 Ref: 0022 EN Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines can no longer be qualified as "experimental" vaccines at this stage. They now hold an Emergency Use Authorization granted by Health Agencies after a rigorous review of basic research data, animal studies results, and clinical trials Phase 1, 2, and 3 results,involving a very large number of volunteers. There is an international consensus, adopted by a large number of countries and published on the WHO and National Health Authority websites, concerning the vaccination policy to be implemented: this consists of giving priority to those most at risk of contracting a serious form of COVID and to those most exposed to contamination. This is indeed what is done, at least in Western countries. To know more… It is essential to remind that vaccination campaigns do not aim to immediately vaccinate the entire population (mass vaccination) but proceed with caution; the vaccination program will proceed as follows: Giving priority to people at risk (elderly and/or suffering from co-morbidities, healthcare personnel, essential workers, etc.). Waiting to vaccinate people whose profile has not been represented in clinical trials (children under 16 years of age, for example) and to do so only if the results of additional studies allow it. And, of course, not to vaccinate people for whom vaccination is contraindicated (immunosuppressed for example) or not recommended. Finally, pharmaceutical companies producing the COVID vaccines are required to conduct a thorough post-vaccination monitoring in order to detect the occurrence of possible adverse events (phase 4 studies). This monitoring of vaccinated individuals complements the very close and reinforced monitoring conducted by the Health Authorities as part of their Pharmacovigilance system.