Immunization of all children will begin. The government formalized, through the voice of Olivier Véran on BFMTV this Wednesday morning, the possibility for all 5-11 years of age to be vaccinated against Covid-19, after a final opinion from the Vaccine Strategy Orientation Council (COSV). "Today we are opening vaccination for children aged 5 to 11", announced the Minister of Health, specifying that "in the coming hours, in the morning", the appointments will be opened online. In the process, the Orientation Council of the Vaccine Strategy (COSV) issued its opinion in which it "positions itself in favor of the launch of the pediatric vaccination campaign", all "without delay, in order to strengthen immunity. of this age category against Covid-19 ”.
The instance was based in particular on “obtaining real life data” published by the US CDC, the equivalent of the health agency.
"These safety data are likely to reassure on the adverse effects that can occur following an anti-Covid-19 vaccination in a child aged 5 to 11 years", estimates the COSV, in particular in the face of the risk of myocarditis.
Out of more than 7 million doses administered to American children, only 14 cases have been identified, including 8 confirmed.
Validation of the HAS and the National Consultative Ethics Council
The authority also stresses "the need for health professionals to exercise as comprehensive an education as possible with regard to parents, by transmitting transparent information to them on the benefits and risks of vaccinating their children". On Monday, the High Authority for Health (HAS) had already given the green light, just like the National Consultative Ethics Council on Friday. Vaccination against Covid-19 for children has already been open since December 15, but only for those at risk or living with a person at risk. The opening to this age group of vaccination was initially planned for the beginning of the year,but the resurgence of the epidemic - with very high incidence rates among the youngest (nearly 600 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) - and the discovery of the Omicron variant have pushed the government to step up the pace.
VIDEO.
Children aged 5 to 11 at risk of serious forms, already vaccinated
"It's about both protecting children and protecting their education because a child who is not vaccinated with an Omicron wave will have a much harder time going to school, and that's also to protect parents and grandparents ”, had justified Saturday on France Inter the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran.
"Because they are contaminants", "the vaccination of children has its effectiveness in this respect", estimated the same day the Prime Minister, Jean Castex.
Two doses and one lower dosage
As for adults, vaccination of 5-11 year olds is done with Pfizer-BioNTech serum. However, unlike their elders, the younger ones benefit from a lower dosage - 10 micrograms of RNA message compared to 30 micrograms for adults. Two doses spaced three weeks apart are needed, but no booster is currently scheduled.
The subject of childhood vaccination is sensitive. It is the subject of scientific debate because severe forms of Covid-19 are extremely rare in this age group, while vaccines can have side effects on the heart, although they are very infrequent. "Although less important than in adults, the benefit / risk ratio of childhood vaccination (...) is favorable, in particular in the current context of an increase in the incidence of the disease in France", wrote the HAS in his opinion. “Even if the impact of childhood immunization on the current wave would be only very limited, it could potentially reduce the impact of subsequent waves by reducing the circulation of the virus in the general population,” she continues.
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The government could however be confronted with a difficulty: that of the acceptance of the parents.
According to a survey by the French public health agency, more than half of parents are not ready to have their child aged 5 to 11 vaccinated.
On numerous occasions, the Minister of Health, like that of National Education, the Prime Minister or even Emmanuel Macron, had insisted that the vaccination of children will not be compulsory.
The health pass, now limited to over 12 years, should remain so.
