Abidjan, Cรดte d’Ivoire
December 1999 will go down in history as the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China. Caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2, Covid-19 is a disease transmitted mainly by respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. It develops rapidly and can vary in severity, from a simple cold to more serious symptoms such as breathing difficulties. Cases of anxiety, depression and stress linked to the disease have also been recorded. The first officially recognised case was reported on 17 November 2019. The situation turn rapidly evolved and worsened to become a global crisis in early 2020.
The scientific world was lost in conjecture as to its origin. While some spoke of natural transmission from bats to humans, others firmly supported the theory of an accidental leak from a laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, due to the discovery of the first case there, while denouncing a clear desire to cause harm on the part of the authors of this research. The Chinese authorities alerted the World Health Organisation (WHO) on 31 December 2019 to an unknown viral pneumonia, and the pandemic was made public. Numerous cases were subsequently discovered in the Huanan seafood market, which several infected patients had visited or worked in.
Given its impact on health, the economy and society, and the controversy fuelled by political and social factors, no global consensus has been reached on its origin. The scientific community was quick to try and find ways of understanding this disease and controlling it, given its extremely rapid spread. Drastic health measures were taken, which were difficult to apply for various reasons in developing countries, particularly in Africa. Scientific and medical research has also been carried out in an attempt to find a solution. Here too, the problem of consensus has arisen.
Controversies over the Covid-19 vaccine
Measures have been taken to contain the pandemic, guarantee maximum protection and reduce hospitalisations and deaths. The mRNA, viral vector and inactivated vaccines are the three types of vaccine discovered by the scientific community in an emergency context, triggering concerns among some scientists about side-effects, fuelling controversy and arousing mistrust about their effectiveness and medium- and long-term side-effects.
The first vaccines against COVID-19 were developed and distributed largely thanks to international efforts and collaboration between governments, health organisations and the pharmaceutical industry. As a result, the scientific community was split between those who guaranteed the efficacy of the vaccines and those who questioned them on the grounds that not all the steps required for official approval of certain vaccines had been followed. Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Senior Medical Advisor to President Joe Biden, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Dr. Peter Marks, Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were among those who campaigned for the rapid, equitable and worldwide distribution of vaccines to better control the pandemic. Their commitment was crucial in speeding up vaccine distribution and achieving wider global vaccination coverage.
Other scientists, less prominent in society and less publicised in the media, were more nuanced and called for caution in administering vaccines on a large scale, following research carried out. These included Professor Angus Dalgleish is a professor of oncology at St George’s, University of London and is well-known for his research on HIV/AIDS and cancer immunotherapy. He has made significant contributions to understanding how HIV uses the CD4 receptor and has been involved in developing cancer vaccines. Professor Angus Dalgleish has expressed his views on Covid-19 vaccines. He has been critical of the booster vaccine program, suggesting that it may do more harm than good. He has also raised concerns about the necessity of vaccinating children and young adults, and the potential side effects of the vaccines. Professor Luc Montagnier, winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine for his discovery of the AIDS virus, who expressed concerns about RNA vaccines, saying they could cause cancer. He also said that vaccines are not necessary if a balanced diet is followed. Prof. Henri Joyeux, surgeon, oncologist and honorary professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montpellier, who criticised the adjuvants used in vaccines, in particular aluminium salt, and claimed that vaccines poison children. In September 2023, he was banned from practising medicine for two years by the national disciplinary chamber of the Conseil national de l’Ordre des mรฉdecins. Prof. Jean-Pierre Changeux, a renowned French neurobiologist and eminent figure in the field of neuroscience, who conducted research into the effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. He expressed concern about the speed with which vaccines have been developed and approved, fearing that this may have compromised the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. He also stressed the importance of understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the disease and the immune response before mass deployment of vaccines. Professor Didier Raoult, Director of the Marseille University Hospital Institute for Infectious Diseases (IHU), took a controversial stance on the COVID-19 vaccine. Initially, he expressed reservations about the efficacy of vaccines and even claimed that they were useless. For example, in 2021, he stated that ยซย among those vaccinated, there are no fewer deathsย ยป. He also made statements to the effect that vaccines contain large quantities of DNA and could be linked to cancer. However, in May 2023, he made an unexpected statement admitting that the COVID-19 vaccines are effective. He admitted that ยซย people who are vaccinated die less than people who are not vaccinatedย ยป. This acknowledgement contrasts sharply with his earlier statements. These contradictory statements can be interpreted in different ways and it is difficult to know whether he was pressured or threatened, and he had to face legal proceedings. What is certain is that his opinions have provoked a great deal of debate. Other medical workers (doctors, nurses) in different countries have reported being intimidated by their superiors in their respective departments.
Crisis of confidence
The criticisms and reservations expressed by scientists such as Changeux, Montagnier, Raoult and Joyeux have contributed to important discussions on the safety, efficacy and approval of vaccines. These discussions have also encouraged further studies to better understand the disease and improve vaccines. Several studies have been conducted to examine the potential side effects of COVID-19 vaccines. The Global Vaccine Data Network study, which analysed the health data of more than 99 million people in eight countries (Argentina, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, New Zealand and Scotland), revealed a link between certain vaccines and side effects such as Guillain-Barrรฉ syndrome, cerebral venous thrombosis, myocarditis and pericarditis.
A French Senate Report, which examined the adverse effects of vaccines and the latest developments in scientific knowledge about COVID-19, identified a number of potential side effects, including menstrual disorders, neurological disorders and cardiac problems.
A French study also showed an increased risk of menstrual disorders up to three months after the first injection of messenger RNA vaccine. Over time, it became clear that the concerns expressed by some specialists were well-founded. The scientific community also came to realise that the vaccine did not prevent transmission of the virus. Vaccines against COVID-19 reduce transmission of the virus, but they do not eliminate it completely. Vaccinated people can still be infected and potentially transmit the virus, especially as the virus itself has constantly evolved into new variants that call into question the immunity provided by vaccines.
An Israeli study showed that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine reduced asymptomatic infections by 75%. However, even with this reduction, it is still possible for a vaccinated person to contract and transmit the virus. What’s more, even with the measures taken by the scientific community, the complexity and scale of the pandemic have made it difficult to completely avoid overloading healthcare systems. So although vaccines are effective in reducing transmission, they do not entirely prevent it.
Protecting humanity by all means
The majority of the scientific community has worked hard to develop effective vaccines and treatments to protect humanity against COVID-19. However, as with any major undertaking, there have been concerns about financial interests and economic pressures, as well as criticisms about the side effects of the vaccines. Some concerns have come from investigative journalists and scientists who point out that big pharma and some researchers may have been influenced by financial incentives. For example, lucrative contracts with governments and patents on vaccines have sometimes created conflicts of interest.
In principle, scientific research relies on rigorous rules of transparency, replication of results and review to ensure the integrity of discoveries. International collaboration and data sharing are also essential to accelerate vaccine development. While there may have been financial concerns in the management of the Covid-19 crisis, most scientists and researchers were motivated by a sincere desire to protect public health and address the health crisis. It is true that science and politics can sometimes intertwine in a way that raises concerns. In December 2020, Dr. Michael Yeadon, former vice-president of Pfizer and a researcher in allergy and respiratory research, expressed concerns about certain aspects of the management of the pandemic. He lost his position because of his controversial statements, which were deemed unsubstantiated, about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. The important thing to remember about this topic is that the majority of scientists strive to work to rigorous ethical standards to protect humanity. It is not always easy in emergency.
Roselyne Kandel
