The National Ethics Advisory Committee, which emphasizes, however, on the free choice left to parents, excludes from imposing a health care for children.
Le Monde with AFP
While VVID-19 vaccination began two days ago for at-risk children, the National Ethics Advisory Committee (CCNE) approved on Friday 17 December, its opening to all older children of Five to eleven years. However, it emphasized the free choice that should be left to parents, also excluding from imposing a health care for children.
“It is important to vaccinate children and that this vaccination is well followed,” said Alexandra Benachi Obstetrician at a press conference, a member of the CCNE, presenting this opinion, made Thursday to the government. But “it is not necessary to absolutely that this vaccination is mandatory”, and “it is impossible to consider a sanitary pass for this age group” as is the case for adults and the 12-18 years, a- she chained.
The French government had said to wait for the opinion of several instances before opening the vaccination against CVIV-19 to all children, that of CCNE being the first of them. The High Authority of Health (HAS) should also be pronounced very quickly as to this measure, which would concern several million children.
The vaccination of adults “essential and priority”
Then, last step before a government decision, the Vaccine Strategy Orientation Board must give its next week notice. The latter still awaits data on side effects in the United States, which have already opened vaccination every 5-11 years.
President Emmanuel Macron voted this week for such an opening, but promised to let the parents choose freely. The vaccination of children is the subject of many debates, because the serious forms of Covid-19 are rare for this age group, while vaccines can have cardiac side effects, however very infrequent.
Interest is essentially collective. Such a measure would aim to prevent children from becoming the main vectors of the epidemic. However, the CCNE stated decided according to the individual interest of children, much more than in terms of collective benefit for the entire society. “The risk of severe form exists [even if it is weak,” said M me Benachi. The vaccination of adults “remains essential and priority,” she also insisted noting that the opinion of the CCNE had been rendered in the emergency, and in a very uncertain context.