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On June 28, the High Authority for Health issued a favorable opinion on the extension of the vaccination skills of nurses, pharmacists and midwives for children from the age of two.
The High Authority for Health (HAS) has just issued a favorable opinion on an extension of vaccination skills in children from 2 years of age for three categories of health professionals: nurses, pharmacists and midwives.
Objective: increase vaccination coverage
In its opinion, the HAS recalls the main objective of this decision, which is “increase vaccination coverage“, but also of “simplify and increase vaccination opportunities“. The published opinion recommends that nurses, pharmacists and midwives can vaccinate children from two years of age, with specific requirements for the youngest or the immunocompromised.
Administer non-live vaccines
For HAS, therefore, these categories of healthcare professionals are able to prescribe and administer the non-live vaccines included in the vaccination schedule for children under 16 years of age. These are the following vaccines: BCG, Diphtheria-Tetanus-Poliomyelitis, Haemophilus Influenzae type b (HIB), Hepatitis B, Pertussis, Pneumococcal, Meningococcal B, Meningococcal C, Meningococcal ACYW, Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Varicella, Influenza.
Special case of immunocompromised people and children under two years old
For immunocompromised individuals, adults or children, the HAS recommends, however, that the question of live vaccines remains within the competence of doctors alone. For children under two years of age, the opinion does not recommend expanding the vaccination skills of pharmacists and nurses for this age group.
The nurses, who already had the skills, can continue to administer all the vaccines listed in the vaccination schedule.
New skills for midwives
Midwives are authorized to prescribe and administer all the vaccines included in the vaccination schedule. Until now, for newborns, midwives had the competence to prescribe and administer only BCG and hepatitis B vaccines.
Training required except for midwives
HAS recommends that this extension of skills be subject to the completion of certified training for professionals who have not followed specific childhood vaccination modules. This will not be the case for midwives already trained in infant vaccination.
Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo, welcomes this news: “It is a very good idea to broaden the vaccination skills of these health professionals. They must be well trained in vaccination, both in the gesture, but also in the contraindications and possible post-vaccination reactions. The aspect of traceability must also be studied, through the digital health space, so that the various vaccines produced are noted, which will facilitate communication between professionals. It should not just be an addition of tasks, but this development should contribute to better interprofessional collaboration”.
More generally, Dr. Gérald Kierzek believes that it is important to “rethink the methods of collaboration, training and remuneration of the various players in the health system”.