Covid-19: the High Authority for Health in turn recommends vaccinating children from 5 to 11 years old

After the National Consultative Ethics Committee, place at the High Authority for Health (HAS). During a press conference organized on Monday, the independent body gave the green light to the vaccination against Covid-19 of all children aged 5 to 11 years. “The HAS proposes that parents who wish to be able to have their children vaccinated as soon as the doses in pediatric formulation are available”, indicates the body whose opinions are followed by the government. But several recommendations accompany this validation.

First, the High Authority for Health is opposed to the vaccination of children becoming mandatory or required in the health pass. The “possibility must be offered to parents, but the HAS does not want this vaccination to be made compulsory or payable”, she insists. In addition, like the will of the Vaccine Strategy Orientation Council (COSV), “HAS recommends carrying out a serological TROD for children who have no known history of Covid-19”. One way to avoid a second injection made three weeks later for 5-11 year olds already affected by the virus in recent months.

The High Authority for Health also recommends prioritizing college students under 12, and specifies that pediatricians and attending physicians must play their role in supporting parents wishing to have their children vaccinated. “All information must be given to parents and children, the place of information is extremely important.”

The High Authority for Health bases its recommendation on data from the seven million American children already vaccinated. Only eight cases of myocarditis (an inflammation of the heart), finally cured, were confirmed there, specifies the HAS. She notes that “the benefit-risk ratio is a little less important than in adults, but remains favorable in the current pandemic context”.

Because the Omicron variant, which could soon be the majority in France, could change the situation. “Serious forms are rare in children”, recalls the independent body. “When this is the case, 80% of severe forms occur in children without co-morbidities. With Omicron, we can expect an increase in severe forms in children.”, she warns.

Beyond the individual benefit, the HAS also emphasizes a collective advantage. “The HAS took into account that the vaccination could reduce the circulation of the virus in the classes”, she assures. “The different models showed that vaccinating children on the current wave would only have a limited impact, but it could have an impact on subsequent waves.”

If this advice represents a further step towards immunization of every 5-11 years, the last word will go to the government. But the executive is still awaiting the COSV report, chaired by Alain Fischer. He is due to give his opinion after the release of real-life data in the United States, probably in the coming days.