The Ministry of Health has released the new vaccination schedule for this year.
On Wednesday April 12, the Ministry of Health unveiled the new vaccination schedule for 2023.
One of the main novelties is that vaccination against rotavirus is now “recommended” for children aged 6 weeks to 6 months, the schedule consisting of two or three doses, the number varying according to the serum.
A virus responsible for acute gastroenteritis
The Ministry recalls:
Rotavirus is the main cause of acute viral gastroenteritis in children under 5 years of age. It is a very contagious virus, responsible each year for epidemics between December and April.
Below this age, gastroenteritis “may lead to complications”, indicates the High Authority for Health. She still points out that each year, the infection leads to “about 57,000 consultations in general medicine, 28,000 emergency visits and 20,000 hospitalizations”.
Generalization of HPV vaccination
The other novelty is the generalization of vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, announced by President Macron last February. This vaccination will be offered to “all 5th grade students volunteer from the start of the next school year, free of charge”says the ministry.
In addition, annual vaccination against seasonal influenza may also be offered to children without comorbidities aged 2 to 17 years old.
Renewed logistics
From now on, pharmacists, nurses, midwives and postgraduate students in medicine and pharmacy will be authorized to vaccinate. “These new powers should be effective in the course of 2023”adds the ministry.
Eight vaccinations that were recommended became mandatory in 2018. These are: whooping cough, invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, pneumococcal infections, invasive meningococcal serogroup C infections, measles, mumps and rubella. Three other vaccines that are already compulsory are to be added: diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis.