While contamination rates explode with the 5th epidemic wave, the Haute Autorité de santé recommends vaccination against Covid-19 for children aged 5 to 11 at risk.
In front of the surge in Covid-19 cases in the midst of the 5th epidemic wave, the government has continued to take new measures in recent weeks to try to stem the spread of the virus : return of the compulsory mask in schools since November 15, return of the mask mandatory outdoors in 28 departments since November 22 … The 5-11 age group, among the children attending school, was particularly at the center of concerns since she had the highest incidence rate.
While the Minister of Health Olivier Véran opened the door to an upcoming childhood vaccination at a press conference this Thursday, November 25, the High Authority for Health has just made its public opinion this Tuesday, November 30 : it recommends vaccination against Covid-19 for at-risk children aged 5 to 11 years. This first wave of vaccination will be reserved as a priority for 360,000 children at risk of severe form of Covid, but also to those working with immunocompromised people.
Who will be specifically concerned?
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, children have also been affected by serious forms of the virus: we have counted so far 3 deaths and 228 critical care admissions, for 5.8 million children aged 5 to 11.
To prevent these risky contaminations, the HAS therefore recommends the vaccination of children at risk. The profiles concerned are those who present:
- liver disease
- kidney disease
- heart disease or heart defects
- chronic respiratory disease
- cancer
- leukemia
- neurological pathology
- immunodeficiency
- obesity
- diabetes
- malignant hemopathy
- sickle cell anemia
- Down’s syndrome
Children with these pathologies have been identified to receive the vaccine because they are diseases or disabilities for which these children “have a higher risk of developing a severe form and almost all of the children who died from Covid-19 were carriers of this type of condition” Explain Daniel Floret, vice-president of the HAS technical committee on vaccinations.
The dosage of this vaccine formula will correspond to one third of the product administered to adults : they contain 10 micrograms of antigens, against 30 for adults. Alone the Pfizer vaccine has obtained marketing authorization for this age group, and it should be available from December 20.
Childhood vaccination that divides
Regarding the vaccination of children, the subject divides : school-age children currently at high risk of being infected with Covid-19, their vaccination would better stop the epidemic for all, as explained Odile Launay, infectious disease specialist and coordinator of the Covid-19 vaccine scientific committee : “vaccination will have a collective benefit […] Although it does not prevent it completely, the vaccine reduces transmission because it prevents infection very effectively in children.”.
According to an opinion from the European Medicines Agency of November 25, after a study carried out on 2000 children, the efficacy of the vaccine against a symptomatic form of Covid over 5-11 years is estimated at 90.7%.
But among the detractors, we point the benefit of natural infection for children which grants more robust immunity.
Ethical issues also intervene in the debate, as well as the lack of perspective regarding the vaccination of young children. The issue of extending vaccination to all children is far from settled, and the competent authorities are waiting for the moment. the conclusions of the American experiment, since the United States has already launched the vaccination for children aged 5 to 11 in early November.
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