Vaccination of children from 5 years old "is a necessity", says Castex

Europe 1 with AFP 10:02 am, December 12, 2021

Prime Minister Jean Castex estimated that the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 against Covid-19 was "a necessity", in an interview with France Bleu Alsace, AFP learned on Sunday.

"Vaccination of children is a necessity" between 5 and 11 years, the Prime Minister said on local radio, believing that the youngest "are transmitters" of the virus.

"Favorable risk-benefit balance"

"I am a living example," he continued.

"It was my 11 year old daughter who gave me the virus a few weeks ago."

In an opinion published on December 6, the Orientation Council for the vaccination strategy considered that "the indications for the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 appear to be met".

It nevertheless conditioned its implementation on obtaining data "in real life" in order to ensure "that the risk-benefit balance is favorable", which could occur after obtaining US data, "possibly from the end of December. ".

Opening of the vaccination "beginning of January 2022"

According to a document from the Ministry of Health consulted by AFP shortly before the Health Defense Council of December 6, "the opening of vaccination to all children" of this age group is scheduled "at the beginning of January 2022".

At the end of this Defense Council, Jean Castex declared that the government planned to open up vaccination against Covid-19 "to all children" from 5 to 11 years old, "on a voluntary basis, if possible. 'here at the end of the year'.

Since the beginning of December, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal have authorized the vaccination of 5-11 year olds.