Since January 20 and until February 24, 2025, parents of fifth grade students attending school in Burgundy-Franche-Comté can authorize vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) free of charge. Organized by the Regional Health Agency (ARS) in partnership with the academies of Besançon and Dijon, this campaign aims to strengthen vaccination coverage among young people to effectively fight against HPV infections, responsible for many cancers. Here’s everything you need to know.
A campaign relaunched for expanded protection
Why a second campaign?
The objective is to reach students who have not been vaccinated in September 2024. The authorities want to achieve a vaccination coverage rate of 80% by 2030 among young girls and boys aged 11 to 14. This level is crucial to prevent up to 90% of HPV infections, particularly responsible for cervical cancer.
In total, more than 32,000 students spread across 330 middle schools in the region are affected by this new phase.
Practical arrangements: a well-oiled organization
To facilitate access to vaccination, the ARS and its partners have put in place a solid logistical system. Here are the main steps:
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Parental form to complete :
Parents of students have until February 24 to complete a parental authorization form. The latter is available online on a dedicated platform and in colleges. -
Vaccination process :
- The first dose will be administered in spring 2025.
- The second dose is planned a year later, in spring 2026, when students will be in fourth grade.
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Mobile teams in colleges :
- To simplify the process, teams of health professionals (doctors, midwives, nurses and pharmacists) from the 10 regional vaccination centers travel directly to schools.
- At the same time, these teams offer to check and update other compulsory or recommended vaccines for students.
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Strengthened communication :
- An information webinar intended for school heads was organized on January 17, 2025, in the presence of the rectorates and the ARS.
- The information is relayed in colleges via educational materials and an SMS reminder is sent to parents before vaccination sessions.
Why is this vaccination essential?
Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are common viruses, often without apparent symptoms, but responsible for several types of cancer, including cervical cancer. According to the High Authority of Health (HAS), vaccination of girls and boys aged 11 to 14 is the most effective way to prevent these infections.
The benefits of HPV vaccination include:
- Long-term protection against HPV infections.
- A significant reduction in associated cancers, particularly those of the cervix, but also oropharyngeal, anal and genital cancers.
The objective of this campaign is therefore twofold: to protect the health of young people and to contribute to the eradication of HPV-related cancers on a national scale.
-The results of the previous campaign: a promising result
During the first phase of vaccination in 2023-2024, significant progress was recorded:
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5,475 students vaccinated in colleges.
- Among girls: the vaccination coverage rate increased from 35% to 55% (+20 points).
- Among boys: this rate increased from 24% to 43% (+19 points).
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Vaccination a would :
In addition, 5,704 children aged 11 received at least one dose of vaccine from health professionals in town. As of December 31, 2023, the overall vaccination coverage of the age group was 35%.
These encouraging results show the effectiveness of the campaigns and the importance of continuing them.
How to participate in this campaign?
The steps to benefit from this free vaccination are simple:
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Complete the parental authorization form before February 24, 2025.
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Ensure the student’s presence on the day of vaccination :
A text message reminder is sent to parents the day before to ensure the child is ready. -
Find out more if necessary :
A collective challenge for tomorrow’s health
With this free vaccination campaign, ARS Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and its partners offer a unique opportunity to families to protect their children against serious infections. This is a collective effort aimed at reducing the prevalence of HPV-related cancers and sustainably improving public health.
