Will children and adolescents be able to benefit from free screening?
This is what the Scientific Council recommends in a new opinion written in mid-September.
While in mid-October, anti-Covid tests must become chargeable, except on medical prescription, the college of scientists thus proposes to maintain free tests for children and adolescents up to 16 years of age, including the population. overall access to the vaccine and therefore to the health pass.
"The end of free screening risks hampering their access (editor's note. To activities), especially in the less socially advantaged circles", estimates the Scientific Council.
For 12-16 year olds, he reminds that they depend on the authorization of their parents to access vaccination.
"The lack of real responsibility" justifies the maintenance of free tests, according to the members of the Scientific Council, who stress that adolescents "could, if they are not vaccinated, find themselves in a situation to give up certain activities subject to the health pass when screening will represent a cost for the family.
According to them, this exemption could be valid "until 80%" of 12-17 year olds are vaccinated.
Promote access to screening for the youngest
The same applies to children under 12 who do not yet have access to vaccination and therefore cannot benefit from the health pass.
"It is important to maintain - and even to promote - simple and free access to screening, even in the absence of symptoms, for this unvaccinated and frequently asymptomatic population," notes the Scientific Council.
Read alsoEnd of free anti-Covid tests: how not to lose monitoring of the epidemic?
To encourage vaccination, limit so-called "comfort" tests and therefore limit the already heavy bill for Health Insurance, the government plans to no longer reimburse screenings.
While the screenings have already cost more than six billion to Social Security in 2021, the provisional budget for 2022 only allocates them 1.6 billion.
Since this summer, PCR and antigen tests have been billed to foreign tourists visiting France, respectively 49 and 29 euros.
While the budget the budget that will be dedicated to them in 2022 is melting: 1.6 billion, against more than billion in 2021.
