Covid-19: towards serological tests before vaccinating children? – LCI

Will children experience an extra step before being vaccinated against Covid-19? Since this summer, in some vaccination centers, a rapid serological test has been offered. It allows you to know in a few minutes, via a drop of blood, if you have been previously infected with the virus. If so, then a single dose is sufficient to provide optimal protection. Otherwise, two injections are still necessary.

A year after the start of the campaign, two years after the official appearance of the virus, children in turn should take the path of vaccination. Prime Minister Jean Castex wants this to be possible “by the end of the year” for 5-11 year olds, subject to the green light from the health authorities. But the Vaccine Strategy Orientation Council (COSV) is already warning: “Vaccination of 5-11 year olds must imperatively be accompanied by the practice of rapid serological tests”.

The COSV, chaired by Alain Fischer, estimates that a good part of the under 12s has contracted Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic. “An HIV positive rate of 18% was recorded in June among children of this age group”, he said in a notice made public on Wednesday. “This figure is likely to be significantly higher in the context of the fifth wave”, while the incidence rate of young people is one of the highest in the country.

Therefore, in order to avoid a second injection to tens of thousands of children who do not need one, “It is advisable to insist near the centers of vaccination, the doctors and the pharmacists called upon to vaccinate the children to systematically resort to the practice of these tests”, recommends the Council. “This strategy, unfortunately currently underused with regard to the vaccination of adolescents, has already proven to be very effective.”