New vaccination obligations for infants from January 2025 against ACWY and B meningococci.
These new obligations will be added to the 11 compulsory vaccines since 2018. This decision was taken in response to the increase in cases of meningitis in France and the evolution of strains.
Thus, from January 1, 2025, a new vaccination obligation for infants comes into force. Vaccination against meningococci ACWY and that against meningococcus B become compulsory for infants. Vaccination against meningococcus C, already compulsory since 2018, will be replaced by that against meningococci ACWY. Vaccination against meningococcus B, previously recommended, becomes compulsory.
This decision was taken in response to the increase in cases of meningitis in France and the evolution of the strains responsible for these infections in order to better protect children against these serious infections.
Mandatory vaccines, recommended vaccines: what is the distinction?
The coexistence of compulsory vaccines and recommended vaccines reflects the history of vaccination in France. Before the arrival of vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis, these diseases represented real scourges, together responsible for several thousand child deaths per year in France. The State has decided to make them compulsory in order to ensure that all children can have access to them and be protected.
For vaccines introduced into the vaccination schedule from the 1970s, the State considered that it was no longer necessary to make them compulsory because we could count on the strong support of the population and doctors to ensure the vaccination of all children. Recommended vaccines are therefore just as important as mandatory vaccines.
Insufficient vaccination coverage
Eight vaccinations initially recommended have already been made compulsory for infants born on or after January 1, 2018, because their vaccination coverage [1] were too weak. Among these obligations are vaccinations against measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcus C, and hepatitis B. The impact of these vaccination obligations is very positive. For example, the elimination of measles requires a vaccination coverage level of 95% in young children. In France, this level has never been reached since the integration of this vaccination into the vaccination schedule, which explains the epidemic which caused thousands of cases between 2008 and 2011. By making vaccination compulsory in 2018, the vaccination coverage among 2-year-old children born after 2018 is now approaching this 95% objective.
Likewise, we have observed a very significant drop in cases of meningitis C in infants since compulsory vaccination was implemented in 2018. However, we are observing an increase in meningitis B, W, and Y causing severe cases, serious and disabling after-effects and death. While vaccination against meningococcal B is currently recommended in newborns, there is currently no recommendation against meningitis W and Y.
In order to prevent the emergence and increase of these meningococcal infections, the health authorities have decided to follow the recommendations of the High Authority of Health and to make vaccines against meningococci ACWY and B compulsory for infants from 1 January 2025.
Increasing this vaccination coverage should be considered a public health priority in order to prevent the occurrence of easily avoidable tragedies..
Which vaccines have become compulsory?
Vaccinations against:
- diphtheria,
- tetanus,
- poliomyelitis,
- haemophilius influenzae B (bacterium causing pneumonia and meningitis),
- whooping cough,
- hepatitis B,
- measles,
- mumps,
- rubella,
- meningococcus C (bacteria causing meningitis),
- pneumococcus (bacteria causing pneumonia and meningitis)
As of January 1, 2025, the following vaccinations are mandatory for infants:
- Meningococcus B
- ACWY meningococci (vaccination against meningococcus C is replaced by vaccination against ACWY meningococci)
To find out more
– Law of December 30, 2017
[1] Vaccination coverage corresponds to the proportion of people vaccinated in a population at a given time. High vaccination coverage constitutes a key element in the control of infectious diseases, making it possible to protect a population against a given disease.
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