COVID-19 vaccination open to children under 5 years of age under certain conditions

Children affected by vaccination

The High Authority for Health (HAS) recommended in its opinion of 15 December 2022 to open vaccination to this segment of the population. The campaign therefore covers children aged 6 months to 4 years with at least one co-morbidity identified by the High Health Authority. These are the co-morbidities identified in adults as well as certain pathologies particularly at risk for this age group:

• congenital heart disease;
• chronic liver diseases;
• chronic heart and respiratory diseases (including severe asthma requiring continuous treatment);
• neurological diseases;
• primary or drug-induced immunodeficiency;
• obesity;
• diabetes;
• hematological malignancies;
• sickle cell disease;
• trisomy 21.

The campaign also applies to children aged 6 months to 4 years living in the environment of an immunocompromised person.

Vaccination sites for children

The child must have a prescription before being vaccinated. Vaccination can take place in hospitals and specialized facilities. City doctors, nurses, and midwives can also give the vaccine.

Which vaccine is given and how many doses are needed?

A single vaccine can be given to children under 5 years of age. The High Authority for Health has validated in a statement of December 19, 2022 the use of the Comirnaty vaccine from the Pfizer/BioNTech laboratory.

This vaccine provides 3 injections. The first two doses are given 21 days apart and the third dose should be given 8 weeks later.

When an infection occurs, the number of doses does not change. However, the Health Directorate indicates that there must be a 3-month delay between infection and a dose of vaccine.