• From Tuesday, French adolescents aged 12 to 17 will be able to be vaccinated against Covid-19, on a voluntary basis.

  • But this openness gives rise to debate.

  • While some adolescents are eager to be vaccinated to enjoy the summer more calmly, some parents believe that there is too little perspective on these messenger RNA vaccines.

A rush for the slots this Tuesday?

From tomorrow, adolescents aged 12 to 17 will be able to make an appointment to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

A hasty decision for some, relief for others… The opinion of the High Authority for Health, which recommended gradually opening up vaccination to adolescents, generates mixed reactions.

Among the first concerned, but also among their parents.

Because at these ages, you must necessarily obtain parental consent or the green light from your legal representative before the injection ...

Herd immunity and side effects

For now, only Pfizer serum will be used for 12-17 year olds.

But the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it hoped to rule as early as July on whether Moderna's vaccine could be used.

Anyway, the opening of anti-Covid vaccines to minors is debated. Until the National Consultative Ethics Committee (CCNE), which regrets a jostled timing. “Is there an absolute urgency to start vaccination now, when several indicators are green and the start of the school year in September could mark the start of the campaign? "He wondered in a press release last Wednesday. He adds that it is "unlikely" that the objective of collective immunity, which requires vaccination of 80% to 85% of the population, "can be achieved by vaccination of adults alone." But “is it ethical to make minors bear the responsibility, in terms of collective benefit, for the refusal of vaccination (or the difficulty of accessing it) of a part of the adult population? "

A recurring question to which Alain Fischer, the “Mr. Vaccine” of the government, answered in the interview he gave us.

“It would not be ethical to vaccinate teens instead of adults.

But it is not "instead", it is "in addition".

Imagine that we manage to vaccinate 100% of adults, it would be good to also vaccinate teenagers.

Because they play a role in the transmission of the virus.

“While wishing that the school and the university participate in the effort of vaccination.

And the latter to add more in the Journal du Dimanche, by evoking an "arithmetic imperative".

"The benefit is far greater than the risk"

Among the young people we interviewed, fears are limited.

Enzo, 17, delved into the subject before making his decision.

“I have studied the effects of the different vaccines against Covid-19 on reliable sites affiliated with the Ministry of Health, and I have noticed that the benefit far outweighed the risk.

If you have the will to get out of this worrying health situation, you have to get vaccinated.

"

Thomas, 16, had no doubts… and little patience.

“I managed to get vaccinated in early May.

When the question of co-morbidities was asked to me, I didn't lie, I said that I wanted to enjoy this summer by being more serene than this last year.

My mother was of course in agreement and immediately accompanied me in my approach, even if she was a little skeptical… ”

In the family of Matiss, 15, fears go beyond skepticism.

"I would like to be vaccinated, but unfortunately my parents do not want", he confides.

Why ?

“We saw a doctor who said that messenger RNA could have repercussions on reproduction and the possibility of having abnormal children.

»Assures him that he talks about it a lot with his friends, and that many hesitate.

But he insists: “I would like to be vaccinated for a collective purpose.

But also to protect myself and my loved ones, especially since I have a parent at risk.

I keep telling them that there is more risk in having the virus than in receiving the vaccine.

"

"The circulation of the virus was overactive in colleges and high schools"

And on the parents' side? Some, like Anne, 59, do not hide their opposition: "I am absolutely against these vaccines against Covid-19, on which we have no hindsight. “Still, many of them share their joy of returning to a normal life… by preventing a cotton swab from tickling (or worse) their children's noses every two days. Hédi is thus reassured that his daughter Elodie, who will celebrate her 12th birthday this summer, wishes and can be vaccinated as soon as possible. “We are obviously for and happy to see that she understands the principle of collective immunity. She is anxious, like all of us, to be able to get out of this situation. "

Same echo with Christel, 36, mother of two teenagers aged 13 and 14. Who will be vaccinated on June 23. “For us, this is completely obvious! It is our only effective weapon currently against Covid-19. Rebecca, 40, has a 12-year-old daughter, and she gives three reasons why, of course, she will get the vaccine. “First, for the protection of our loved ones at risk, especially since her little sister had Covid-19, but not her. Then, because it could allow us to travel and find our family in Italy, which we haven't seen for two years. Above all, it is a citizen approach. If enough teens get vaccinated, I hope we will have fewer classes closed next school year. Rebecca teaches biology in high school. So much so that the repercussions on adolescents of school breaks, she knows.“I sometimes hear that if all the adults are vaccinated, that will be enough. But I saw how the circulation of the virus was overactive in middle and high schools this year! "

For Sylvie, 44 years old and mother of two adolescents aged 12 and 17, vaccination rhymes with protection.

“I was very at risk, so we were very careful and for more than a year, the restrictions have multiplied: no canteen, no birthday party, no guests… It was difficult, especially for kids.

My big one is going to graduate school and I want him to be able to enjoy student life!

The youngest needs to see his new friends, the sixth is a milestone.

"And Sylvie ironically:" my big one is completely up for it, my youngest only fears the bite!

"

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  • Covid 19

  • Coronavirus

  • Health

  • Anti-covid vaccine

  • Teenager