Only so-called non-live vaccines would be affected, which would notably exclude the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine.
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The vaccination campaign against Covid-19 seems to have given ideas to health authorities. The High Authority for Health (HAS) recommends authorizing pharmacists, nurses and midwives to administer to people aged 16 and over almost all vaccines in the vaccination schedule, in a notice published on Friday January 28.
HAS lists the vaccines that could be concerned: Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis-Poliomyelitis; human papillomaviruses; Pneumococcus; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis A ; Meningococci A, C, W, Y; and Flu. Rarer vaccines such as those against Meningococcus B and rabies, and so-called “live attenuated” vaccines, including the vaccine measles-mumps-rubella and BCG.
This expansion would be possible provided that the practitioners receive training, and that the traceability of the vaccination is reinforced, estimates the HAS. Immunocompromised people, whose vaccination schedule is more complex, would not be affected.
The HAS is not closing the door to a similar authorization for the vaccination of children under 16, but this will be subject to “of a specific job”.
Today, midwives can already perform vaccinations on women, newborns and their families. “under specific conditions”, and pharmacists and nurses can vaccinate against seasonal flu.
Such a measure would be, for the HAS, “a way to simplify the vaccination course, to multiply the opportunities to offer vaccination and thus to increase vaccination coverage”, thereby reducing “health inequalities”.