From the start of the 2025 school year, children aged 11 to 14 cared for in medico-social establishments and services (ESMS) will be able to benefit from the free national vaccination campaign against human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, launched for the first time for 5th grade students in the fall of 2023. The organization of this campaign should make it possible to achieve “ the complete two-dose HPV vaccination schedule of Gardasil 9® over one or two years », with an interval of 5 to 13 months between the two injections, specifies the ministerial instruction published in the “Official Bulletin – Health, Social Protection, Solidarity” of December 31, 2024.
Awareness and information to be carried out beforehand
« Vaccination is a voluntary process for young people and their parents or legal representatives. », recalls the text in the introduction. Also, parental authorization being required, must this be collected beforehand by the establishments via a form? (provided in the appendix to the instruction). “ Parents or legal representatives remain free not to accept this vaccination or to take them to be vaccinated in town, to the healthcare professional of their choice. », It is specified.
On the awareness side, ESMS can inform health professionals with whom they have partnerships of the launch of this campaign in order to strengthen actions with parents or legal representatives of children. “ Information and awareness sessions on vaccination for the young people concerned will be organized within the establishment including, depending on the needs of the young people, preparation for vaccination sessions.. » Finally, the instruction emphasizes the relevance of setting up in establishments a campaign steering body bringing together all the stakeholders concerned (director, coordinating doctor or other referring doctor, health executive or nursing coordinator, administrative coordinator ).
What organization for vaccination sessions?
Vaccination sessions are carried out during the support time in ESMS by the dedicated vaccination team, which must include at least one medical manager – doctor or midwife. They are organized around the consultation of the health record, a pre-vaccination interview and the administration of the vaccineall “ in a reassuring environment ». « Considering the specificities of certain disability situations, the young person may be accompanied by one of their parents or legal representatives, particularly for those who are unable to answer the medical team’s questions. », adds the instruction. A monitoring period of 15 minutes must follow the injection, as this may cause risk of discomfort or anaphylactic reaction. Finally, ESMS who are unable to mobilize a vaccination team can contact the Regional Health Agency (ARS) in their territory to request the intervention of professionals from another structure authorized to vaccinate.
An essential vaccination campaign to prevent the appearance of cancer
The vaccination campaign against HPV infections was continued at the start of the school year in September 2024 for middle school students. Since its launch in 2023, it has made it possible to extend vaccination coverage among target populations:
– Among girls, it stands at “54.6% (+5.6 points) for the 1st dose and 44.7% for the 2nd dose (+3.2 points) at the end of 2023”
– And in boys, it is “25.9% (+13.1 points) for the 1st dose and 15.8% (+7.3 points) for the 2nd dose at the end of 2023.
« This notable increase in vaccination coverage must be further improved and mobilization must therefore be further strengthened to achieve the vaccination coverage objective set by the ten-year strategy to combat cancer 2021-2030 (80% vaccination coverage in 2030) », Underlines the instruction. Vaccination against HPV infections prevents the appearance of infections that can lead to precancerous lesions by up to 90%.
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