Who has the right to make a vaccine?

Verified 11 April 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Who can administer a vaccination? In particular, doctors, midwives, nurses and certain preventive structures may carry out vaccinations, in accordance with the vaccination schedule and as part of the exercise of their powers. The same goes for pharmacists. We're presenting the regulations.

Doctors are empowered to carry out all diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic procedures, including vaccinations.

Who shall I contact

Midwives can prescribe vaccines mentioned in schedule of vaccinations to all persons for whom these vaccinations are recommended.

However, they cannot prescribe certain vaccines (live attenuated vaccines) in immunocompromised persons.

Midwives can administer all vaccines listed in the vaccination schedule are to be given to all persons for whom these vaccinations are recommended.

They may prescribe and administer the seasonal influenza vaccine should be given to all persons who are or are not targeted by the vaccination recommendations.

Nurses, including those practicing in a medical biology laboratory or in an in-house pharmacy, may prescribe after prior training, all the vaccines mentioned in schedule of vaccinations according to the recommendations of this calendar for people aged 11 and over.

However, they cannot prescribe live attenuated vaccines in the immunocompromised persons.

They can administer without prior medical prescription of the act of injection all the vaccines mentioned in this vaccination schedule for persons aged 11 years and over.

They remain competent to administer all vaccines to all persons, whatever their age, on prior medical prescription of the act of injection.

They can prescribe and administer the seasonal influenza vaccine should be given to all persons who are or are not targeted by the vaccination recommendations.

However, they need a medical prescription to vaccinate a minor under 11 years of age against influenza.

Pharmacists and pharmacists practicing in a laboratory for medical biology or in a pharmacy for internal use in an establishment may prescribe after prior training, all the vaccines mentioned in schedule of vaccinations according to the recommendations of this calendar for people aged 11 and over.

However, they cannot prescribe live attenuated vaccines in the immunocompromised persons.

They can administer all vaccines included in the vaccination schedule for persons aged 11 years and over.

They can prescribe and administer seasonal influenza vaccine for all persons 11 years of age and older, whether or not targeted by vaccination recommendations.

Students in the 2nd cycle of medical studies

Students in 2e course of medical studies, as part of the national vaccination campaign against HPIs, are authorized to administer the vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPI) infections.

To do this, they must have:

  • Follow-up of theoretical and practical lessons on vaccination
  • And be placed under the supervision of a state-certified nurse.

Students in the 3rd cycle of medical studies

These students can administer under the supervision of a supervisor:

  • All vaccines mentioned in the schedule of vaccinations, to all persons for whom such vaccinations are recommended.
  • Seasonal influenza vaccine, targeted or not targeted by vaccination recommendations.

Students in 3rd cycle of pharmaceutical studies

Some students in 3e cycle of pharmaceutical studies may administer under the supervision of a supervisor:

  • All vaccines mentioned in the schedule of vaccinations persons aged 11 years and over
  • Seasonal influenza vaccine is given to all people 11 years of age and older who may or may not be targeted by vaccination recommendations.

PMI centers provide health monitoring for pregnant women and children up to the age of 6.

Vaccinations performed for these people by the vaccinators in these centers (doctors, midwives, and nurses) are free.

Who shall I contact

Certain vaccinations (influenza, tetanus and other vaccines depending on the biological risks involved) may be given by the occupational doctor (or a nurse on medical prescription) for the prevention and preservation of health at work.

Authorized health professionals working in occupational health services may prescribe vaccines of schedule of vaccinations which will be subsequently given outside the company.

Medical biologists (pharmacist biologists and medical biologists) can do the following:

  • Prescribe all vaccines mentioned in the schedule of vaccinations according to the recommendations of this calendar for people aged 11 and over. However, they cannot prescribe live attenuated vaccines in the immunocompromised persons.
  • Aadminister all vaccines included in the vaccination schedule for people aged 11 years and over
  • Pprescribeand administer seasonal influenza vaccine for all persons 11 years of age and older, whether or not targeted by vaccination recommendations.

FYI  

Medical biologists don't have to be trained to vaccinate.