Who are the children affected?
Since December 15, 2021, children aged 5 to 11 who are at risk of developing a severe form of Covid-19, those with serious illnesses and those who live in the entourage of an immunocompromised person can be vaccinated.
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The question of an extension to all children has arisen for several weeks, and has been studied by the Ethics Committee as well as the French High Authority for Health (HAS).
These two bodies have come out in favor of extending vaccination to all 5-11 year olds.
For the HAS, "
because of its vaccine efficacy against the major variants currently circulating and its satisfactory tolerance profile (...) the Pfizer vaccine can be used from the age of 5 years
".
Vaccination should therefore be open to all children aged 5 to 11.
From what date can children be vaccinated?
This Wednesday, December 22, "
if all goes well
," said Minister of Health Olivier Véran, last Saturday.
But before starting the vaccination campaign for 5-11 year olds, a final opinion is awaited: that of the Orientation Council of the vaccination strategy.
His position, however, is not in doubt.
The body had already expressed its agreement in principle at the beginning of December.
Is this vaccination compulsory?
No.
The compulsory vaccination in 5-11 year olds is strongly discouraged by the Ethics Committee.
In the conclusion of its opinion dated December 16, the advisory body insists: "
CCNE insists on the fact that this vaccination of children must be a proposal, and not an obligation
".
Read alsoCovid-19: would the vaccination obligation be possible in France?
For now, the government also rules out this hypothesis.
Visiting a vaccination center in Le Mans on Saturday, December 18, Jean Castex recalled that this vaccination would be offered "
on a voluntary basis
".
On the website of the Ministry of Health, we can read that "at
this stage, the children will do their usual activities, whether they are vaccinated or not
."
In addition, the agreement of one of the two parents or of the legal guardians is necessary.
The parent (s) must give their consent by completing a certificate, available on the ministry's website.
Will they be subject to a vaccination / health pass?
"
No, this is not planned for the moment
", indicates the site of the Ministry of Health.
A few weeks ago, in anticipation of the Health Defense Council of December 6, the executive also clarified that there was no question of imposing the health pass for 5-11 year olds.
Likewise, in its opinion of December 16, the Ethics Committee recalled that this vaccination "
must not be included in a health pass
".
Read also "It's blackmail": the vaccine pass pushes the unvaccinated to their limits
Where can they get vaccinated?
In vaccination centers suitable for children.
Some centers have opened units dedicated to children, such as in Haute-Garonne.
There are also vaccination centers entirely dedicated to children, as in Tours, for example.
It is also possible to contact the pediatric services of hospitals or town doctors.
The Ministry of Health has indeed indicated that it would be possible for them to order doses and to vaccinate children "
from the end of December
".
Pediatric vaccination can also take place "
at home or at a nurse on medical prescription,
" says the ministry.
What vaccines can they receive?
At the moment, only Pfizer-BioNTech's pediatric vaccine has obtained marketing authorization for 5-11 year olds.
The website of the Ministry of Health specifies that the vial of the pediatric vaccine is "
well provided with an orange lid, specific to the pediatric form
".
It is therefore easily distinguished from the classic vaccine, which has a purple cover.
It is with this vaccine that the United States began to immunize more than 30% of the 5 to 11 years of the country, or approximately 5 million children.
Is the dose lower than for adults?
Yes, the dosage of vaccines intended for children is lower than that intended for adults.
It is precisely three times lower than the dosage recommended for adults, i.e. 10 micrograms of antigens when that for adults contains 30.
The vaccination schedule also differs from that of adults.
Children will receive two injections three weeks apart.
If the child has already contracted Covid-19, or if he contracts the virus within 15 days of the first injection, a single injection is sufficient.