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in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Medical validation:
November 1, 2024
The government wants to expand the vaccination campaign at colleges, by adding vaccination against invasive meningococcal infections to that against the papillomavirus (HPV). A good initiative? Update with Dr Gérald Kierzek, medical director of Doctissimo.
Double vaccination: this is the government’s wish for the 2025-2026 school year. A vaccine, reimbursed 100% by Health Insurance.
A “combined” vaccination campaign
Since September 2023, 5th grade middle school students can be vaccinated against papillomavirus free of charge in their establishment, subject to parental authorization. As a reminder, human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are very widespread and can cause cancers in both men and women (cancers of the cervix, oropharynx and anus). .
Vaccination of young people aged 11 to 19 remains the most effective way to prevent “up to 90% of infections HPV“, assures Health Insurance.
This is why the Regional Health Authorities (ARS) and the rectorates have placed emphasis on this vaccination for almost a year.
But the government now wants to go further: it wants to protect adolescents from “invasive meningococcal infections A, C, W, Y“, which are fatal in approximately 1 in 10 cases due to their dazzling nature.
Faced with these risks, and the resumption of the circulation of meningococci in France, the government is proposing “to capitalize on this HPV vaccination campaign by including vaccines against invasive meningococcal infections A, C, W, Y“, in an amendment to the Social Security financing bill (PLFSS) by organizing “a combined HPV–Meningococcus campaign“, for the 2025-2026 school year.
Double vaccination: who is affected?
This “combined” vaccination targets young adolescents. The High Authority for Health (HAS) therefore recommends “to vaccinate adolescents aged 11 to 14 years old against serogroups A, C, W, Y according to a one-dose schedule, regardless of their previous vaccination status“, she explains.
Everyone will have access to this vaccine “free of charge”, says Health Insurance.
Combined vaccination: what does Dr Gérald Kierzek think?
For the medical director of Doctissimo, this vaccination is justified.
“There is a clear rebound in the circulation of meningococci with a decrease in general immunity – following the drop in the circulation of the strains, but also the drop in vaccination, which fell by 20% for vaccination against meningococcus C during the first confinement for example“, he explains, before continuing: “Young people are particularly affected given the promiscuity of high school/student life, which is a proven risk factor. Increase the vaccination coverage is a priority and co-vaccinating is an additional means of expanding coverage. he confirms.