The last step is over.
The High Authority for Health on Wednesday approved the use of Moderna's anti-Covid vaccine for adolescents aged 12 to 17.
The HAS considers that this product “can be used from the age of 12 years in accordance with the vaccination strategy recommended previously: primarily in adolescents with comorbidity or in those belonging to the entourage of an immunocompromised person;
[then] in adolescents without comorbidity, in order to decrease viral circulation to normalize their social life and to maintain their access to education ”.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) had already given the green light on July 23, recommending that the administration of the vaccine for 12-17 year olds be the same as in people 18 years and older, i.e. two injections in upper arm muscles, four weeks apart.
The results of a clinical trial conducted in the United States on 3,726 young people in this age group "show a vaccine efficacy of 93.3% on cases of Covid-19 appearing at least 14 days after the 2nd dose", details the HAS.
32% of adolescents vaccinated for the first time
Adolescents generally develop less severe forms of Covid-19 than older people, but they are not immune to infection and participate in the transmission of the virus within the population.
This is why their immunization is necessary in order to help stop the epidemic, according to experts.
VIDEO.
Should we be afraid of vaccinating children?
A pediatrician answers us
The Spikevax product - this is its scientific name - is therefore the second vaccine, after that of Pfizer, to be authorized for adolescents in France.
Pfizer has been given to minors 12 years of age or older since June 15.
As of July 25, 32% of 12-17 year olds have received at least one dose of vaccine and 12% are fully vaccinated, according to data from Public Health France.
Once the new health law comes into force, the consent of only one parent (and neither for those aged 16 and over) will be required, and no longer from both parents. As for the entry into force of the health pass for 12-17 year olds, it has been postponed to September 30.
