Covid-19: the High Authority for Health gives the green light for the vaccination of 5-11 year olds

Europe 1 with AFP 3:37 p.m., December 20, 2021, modified at 3:37 p.m., December 20, 2021

The High Authority for Health (HAS) spoke on Monday in favor of the anti-Covid vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 but does not wish to make it "payable or compulsory".

"Because of its vaccine efficacy against the major variants currently circulating and its satisfactory tolerance profile, the HAS considers that Pfizer's vaccine can be used from the age of 5 years", underlined the health authority.

The HAS "proposes that parents who wish to be able to vaccinate their child (ren) aged 5 to 11 years from the availability of the doses in pediatric formulation".

It also proposes to vaccinate as a priority "schoolchildren (under 12 years old, whose characteristics are similar to those of other schoolchildren) in order to quickly complete the vaccination campaign for children aged 12 and over".

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A vaccine neither "required nor compulsory"

It also recommends that the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 "can be done within the framework of a shared medical decision, without making it exigible or compulsory after having provided families and children with clear and appropriate information. at their age, on knowledge of the benefits and risks associated with the administration of this vaccine ".

The vaccination of children should be preceded by the performance of a serological test (in the absence of a known and documented history of Covid-19) in order to limit the administration of the vaccine to a single dose in the event of a positive test.

On Saturday, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran indicated that the vaccination against Covid-19 would be offered to all children from 5 to 11 years old from Wednesday "if all goes well".

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The National Consultative Ethics Committee (CCNE) gave a favorable opinion on Friday for this age group which is not affected by the health pass or the future vaccination pass.

This pass is required for ages 12 and over.

Professor Alain Fischer's Vaccine Strategy Steering Committee has yet to deliver its conclusions in the middle of the week.

The vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 at risk of a severe form of Covid-19 (because they are suffering from obesity or other diseases) has already been possible since December 15.