Vaccination schedule: what changes for 2023?

The vaccination schedule sets out the vaccinations applicable to people residing in France according to their age. It shall issue general vaccination recommendations and specific vaccination recommendations specific to specific situations (increased risks of complications, exposure or transmission) or occupational exposures.

The 2023 vaccination schedule has just been made public by the Ministry of Health It may be updated with the latest information on vaccination.

What are the new recommendations for children?

First, vaccination against Rotavirus is recommended for all infants aged 6 weeks to 6 months. It will be recalled that these infections are the main cause of acute gastroenteritis may cause severe dehydration in young children. A strict vaccination schedule must be respected. Depending on the chosen vaccination scheme, the infant will receive:

• two doses at 2 and 3 months of life when Rotarix® vaccine is used;
• or three doses at 2, 3, and 4 months of life when using RotaTeq® vaccine.

On the other hand, annual vaccination against seasonal flu can be offered to children without comorbidity aged 2 to 17 years gone. The High Health Authority favors the use of the vaccine administered intranasally because of its better acceptability in children. This is because this method excludes the use of needles. If the vaccine is not available, other influenza vaccines with marketing authorization in children may be used.

Who are nonmedical health care practitioners who can give a vaccine?

The immunization schedule mentions the scope of non-medical health professionals’ competencies in immunization, which was decided as part of the 2023 Social Security Funding Law.

Now pharmacists, nurses, midwives and students in 3^e course of medicine and pharmacy may prescribe and/or administer vaccines. The conditions for the application of these new competences (training, traceability, etc.), as well as the list of vaccines and the target audience for each of these professions will be specified in regulatory texts in the course of 2023.

For more information, see the profile for Service-Public.fr.