poorly vaccinated children in France, especially in the South-East and disadvantaged families

Only one in 20 children aged 5 to 11 has been vaccinated against Covid-19 in France, a rate much lower than in Italy or the United States and even lower among disadvantaged families or those living in the South. -East, according to a study published Tuesday, December 10. This low vaccination rate is also notable among children at risk of serious illness – less than 8% -, for whom the vaccine represents a particularly important issue, adds the Public Health France study.

The first study relating to the use of vaccines against Covid-19 and in children published in France, this work examines data concerning 320,737 children aged 5 to 11 who received at least one dose of vaccine, i.e. 5.3 % of this population, between January 1, 2021 and November 15, 2023. It highlights “a failure of the vaccination strategy in children with comorbidity” since only one child in 13 at risk aged 5 to 11 has been vaccinated, and “regional and social disparities” in vaccination coverage.

Reflection of social inequalities

So “children residing in an area with a low economic level were less vaccinated”a reflection of social inequalities already observed during the pandemic, concerning the risk of infection and access to diagnostic tests, note the researchers (Ansm, Inserm, Simone Veil faculty of medicine, Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines universities and Paris-Saclay, APHP). The vaccination rate also stands out “significantly higher, while remaining low compared to adults”in the West such as Normandy (7.8%) and Brittany (7.8%) while in the south, Paca (2.7%) and Occitanie (3.7%), display rates among the lowest in the country. A geographical variation which “could reflect the vaccination status of the parents”observes the study.

For children without comorbidities, the study explains the “weak” parents' support for the possibility of having them vaccinated by a “very low frequency of severe forms in this age group”. Ultimately, the vaccination rates of French children are “much lower than the rates reported in Italy and the United States in the first months after the start of the vaccination campaign in children of the same age, i.e. 38% and 24% respectively.” These figures “comfortable(nt) the need for additional awareness-raising efforts and information for families on vaccination, particularly among children from disadvantaged backgrounds and suffering from chronic illnesses”in order to“improve confidence in vaccines”underlines the study.