Reading the figures from the World Health Organization, France seems to be a good student, with 82% of its population fully vaccinated against Covid-19 before December 31, 2023. But in detail, certain indicators are clearly more alarming. A study published in the last weekly epidemiological bulletin of Public Health France thus shows the very low vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years since January 1, 2021 – even before the third confinement.
The results reveal that of more than 6 million children belonging to this cohort, only 320,737 have received at least one dose of vaccine, or a little more than 5% of all children in this age group. This proportion rises to 7.8% among children likely to develop serious forms of the disease, with significant differences depending on the pathologies: 13.9% of diabetic children received a dose of vaccine compared to only 7.4% of those with chronic respiratory disease. Santé Publique France therefore denounces “a failure of the vaccination strategy in children with comorbidity”, also highlighting a large disparity in vaccination rates on French territory.
For example, the vaccination rate appears “significantly higher, while remaining low compared to adults”, in the West (7.8% in Normandy or Brittany) while the southern regions display some of the lowest rates. of the country (3.7% in Occitanie and 2.7% in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur). The figures are even lower in Overseas Territories: less than 2% in Guyana, Guadeloupe or Martinique. This geographical variation “could reflect the vaccination status of the parents”, observes the study. For children without comorbidities, the study explains the “weak” support of parents for the possibility of having them vaccinated by a “very low frequency of severe forms in this age group”.
Lower rates than abroad
These figures reinforce “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.
Especially since vaccination rates in this age group are much higher abroad. In the United States, 24% of children aged 5 to 11 had received a dose of vaccine between November 2021 and January 2022, according to a study of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This share of vaccinated children reached 55% in Spain over the same period, 38% in Italy (just between January and April 2022) and 12% United Kingdom (before May 31, 2022). Is France still a good student?