Incidence, severity and treatment outcome of tuberculosis in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, France, 2018-2023.

Introduction: In France, the average steady decline in tuberculosis (TB) incidence close to 5 % per year over the past half-century has been occasionally interrupted by disruptions related to external events. We describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on TB incidence, severity and treatment outcome.

Methods: We analysed the number of TB cases and treatment outcomes reported through the mandatory notification system through 2018-2023.

The enhanced national pharmacovigilance system implemented for COVID-19 vaccines in France: A 2-year experience report.

In March 2020, World Health Organization recognized severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emergence as a public health emergency of international concern. One of the major preventative measures developed against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was vaccines. To monitor their use and safety of vaccines from the first utilization in humans during clinical development phases to implementation for the general population, an enhanced national pharmacovigilance system was enabled by the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety in collaboration with the 30 Regional Pharmacovigilance Centres.

Pertussis vaccination coverage in women at two months postpartum and associated factors in France, National Perinatal Survey 2021.

Background: Pertussis vaccination in young mothers aims to protect neonates through cocooning. We estimated pertussis vaccination coverage (VC) in women at two months postpartum in France in 2021, and the proportion of women who got vaccinated in the first two months postpartum; associated determinants were studied.

Methods: We used data from the 2021 National Perinatal Surveys conducted in metropolitan France (ENP 2021) and French overseas territories (ENP-DROM 2021).

History of smallpox vaccination and marked clinical expression of mpox among cases notified in France from May to July 2022.

Objectives: The aim was to estimate the effect of reported history of smallpox vaccination prior to 1980 on clinical expression of mpox.

Methods: We included all confirmed mpox cases identified by the national mpox surveillance system in France between May and July 2022. Cases tested positive for monkeypox virus or orthopoxviruses by PCR.

Impact of vaccination against severe COVID-19 in the French population aged 50 years and above: a retrospective population-based study.

Background: Given the widespread implementation of COVID-19 vaccination to mitigate the pandemic from the end of 2020, it is important to retrospectively evaluate its impact, in particular by quantifying the number of severe outcomes prevented through vaccination.

Methods: We estimated the number of hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and deaths directly averted by vaccination in France, in people aged ≥ 50 years, from December 2020 to March 2022, based on (1) the number of observed events, (2) vaccination coverage, and (3) vaccine effectiveness. We accounted for the effect of primary vaccination and the first booster dose, the circulating variants, the age groups, and the waning of vaccine-induced protection over time.

Protection against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection conferred by the Pfizer-BioNTech Original/BA.4-5 bivalent vaccine compared to the mRNA Original monovalent vaccines - A matched cohort study in France.

This cohort study evaluated the protection against symptomatic Omicron BA.5 infection conferred by the Pfizer-BioNTech Original/BA.4-5 bivalent vaccine compared to mRNA Original monovalent vaccines (Pfizer- BioNTech or Moderna).

Effectiveness of second booster compared to first booster and protection conferred by previous SARS-CoV-2 infection against symptomatic Omicron BA.2 and BA.4/5 in France.

In face of evidence of rapid waning of vaccine effectiveness against Omicron and its sub-lineages, a second booster with mRNA vaccines was recommended for the most vulnerable in France. We used a test negative design to estimate the effectiveness of the second booster relative to the first booster and the protection conferred by a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, against symptomatic Omicron BA.2 or BA.

Vaccine effectiveness and duration of protection of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines against Delta and Omicron BA.1 symptomatic and severe COVID-19 outcomes in adults aged 50 years and over in France.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants calls for continuous monitoring of vaccine effectiveness (VE). We estimated the absolute effectiveness of complete 2-dose primary vaccination and booster vaccination with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, and the duration of protection against Delta and Omicron BA.1 symptomatic infection and severe outcomes.

Bronchiolitis epidemics in France during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: The 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons.

Objectives: We described bronchiolitis epidemics during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons in France and their interaction with the COVID outbreak.

Patients And Methods: Data on family physician (FP) visits, emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations for bronchiolitis for children˂2 years, and hospital virological data were analyzed and compared with previous seasons (2015-2020).

Results: The 2020-2021 epidemic arrived very late, and its impact was lower than in previous seasons (2015-2020) (FP visits: -23%, ED visits: -38%, and hospitalizations: -30%).

Severe hospital events following symptomatic infection with Sars-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta variants in France, December 2021-January 2022: A retrospective, population-based, matched cohort study.

Background: A rapid increase in incidence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (sub-lineage BA.1) occurred in France in December 2021, while the Delta variant was prevailing since July 2021. We aimed to determine whether the risk of a severe hospital event following symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection differs for Omicron versus Delta.

Impact of the Omicron variant on SARS-CoV-2 reinfections in France, March 2021 to February 2022.

Since the first reports in summer 2020, SARS-CoV-2 reinfections have raised concerns about the immunogenicity of the virus, which will affect SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology and possibly the burden of COVID-19 on our societies in the future. This study provides data on the frequency and characteristics of possible reinfections, using the French national COVID-19 testing database. The Omicron variant had a large impact on the frequency of possible reinfections in France, which represented 3.

[Supply disruptions and drug shortages: the example of benzathine benzylpenicillin].

Supply disruptions and drug shortages : the example of benzathine benzylpenicillin. Despite collective mobilisation, drug shortages have increased in recent years, creating a strong impact on public health. Anti-infective drugs, mainly injectable antibiotics, are particularly affected by these shortages.

Community outbreak of serogroup B invasive meningococcal disease in Beaujolais, France, February to June 2016: from alert to targeted vaccination.

In February and March 2016, four cases of serogroup B invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) occurred over 3 weeks in a small area north of Lyon in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, France. There were no deaths but two cases had sequelae. This community outbreak was caused by a rare meningococcal strain of the clonal complex ST-32, covered by the 4CMenB/Bexsero vaccine.

Clonal replacement and expansion among invasive meningococcal isolates of serogroup W in France.

Background: Neisseria meningitidis group W (NmW) belonging to the clonal complex ST-11 (NmW/cc11) spread in Europe and in France in 2000 and declined thereafter. In France, invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) due to NmW increased again in 2012 and thereafter since 2015. Several sub-lineages of NmW/cc11 are circulating worldwide with successive epidemic waves.

Effectiveness of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination on Prevalence of Vaccine Genotypes in Young Sexually Active Women in France.

Background: Effectiveness of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines in the context of both guidelines, which recommend vaccination at 14 years and modest vaccine coverage, is poorly documented.

Methods: Residual specimens from females aged <25 years undergoing chlamydia testing were collected, together with demographic, sexual behavior, and vaccine status data. Human pappilomavirus genotypes were determined using the PapilloCheck test system.

Evolutionary Events Associated with an Outbreak of Meningococcal Disease in Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Meningococci spread via respiratory droplets, whereas the closely related gonococci are transmitted sexually. Several outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease have been reported in Europe and the United States among men who have sex with men (MSM). We recently identified an outbreak of serogroup C meningococcal disease among MSM in Germany and France.

Epidemiological impact and cost-effectiveness of introducing vaccination against serogroup B meningococcal disease in France.

Introduction: Despite its low incidence in France, invasive serogroup B meningococcal disease remains a public health concern. A new vaccine against the disease, Bexsero(®), has been licensed in the EU. We studied the epidemiological impact and cost-effectiveness of routine vaccination using Bexsero(®) in order to inform the decision-making process regarding its potential inclusion in the vaccination schedule.

[Changing epidemiology of meningococcal disease].

Changing epidemiology of meningococcal disease. The epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is characterized by a marked variation in incidence and serogroup distribution by geographical region and over time. Immunization programs against serogroups A, C, W, Y in adolescents in North America or mass vaccination campaigns against serogroup A in Sub-Saharan Africa reduced the disease burden in these affected areas.

The use of reimbursement data for timely monitoring of vaccination coverage: the example of human papillomavirus vaccine following public concerns about vaccine safety.

Background: Since 2011 public concerns about Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination safety and efficacy arose in France. We explored the relevance of using vaccines reimbursement data to assess the impact of those public concerns on vaccination coverage.

Methods: We used the Permanent Sample of Beneficiaries which was, at the time of the study, a representative sample of 1/97(th) health insurance beneficiaries of the main Social Security scheme, the General Health Insurance Scheme, covering approximately 77 % of the French resident population.

Measles elimination efforts and 2008-2011 outbreak, France.

Although few measles cases were reported in France during 2006 and 2007, suggesting the country might have been close to eliminating the disease, a dramatic outbreak of >20,000 cases occurred during 2008-2011. Adolescents and young adults accounted for more than half of cases; median patient age increased from 12 to 16 years during the outbreak. The highest incidence rate was observed in children <1 year of age, reaching 135 cases/100,000 infants during the last epidemic wave.

[Measles in France].

From January 2008 to May 2012, over 22,000 cases of measles were reported in France. The highest incidence rate was observed in children below one year of age. Over 50% of cases were reported in young adults.

From tailor-made to ready-to-wear meningococcal B vaccines: longitudinal study of a clonal meningococcal B outbreak.

Background: Outer-membrane-vesicle vaccines for meningococcal B outbreaks are complex and time consuming to develop. We studied the use of already available vaccine to control an outbreak caused by a genetically close strain.

Methods: From 2006 to 2009, all individuals younger than 20 years living in the region of Normandy, France, in which an outbreak caused by a B:14:P1.