The vaccination schedule is regularly updated by the Technical Committee on Vaccinations, made up of experts in pediatrics, immunology and epidemiology. “The introduction of vaccinations has had varying success but has resulted in a significant decrease in the incidence of the corresponding diseases. The best example is represented by meningitis in Haemophilus influenzae : more than 600 cases before the introduction of the vaccine, less than 10 cases ten years later ”explains Dr Philippe Reinert, member of the technical committee. “However, in order to increase the vaccination coverage rate, it is fundamental that the vaccination is explained and understood by parents so that they can compare the risks, for the most part non-existent or hypothetical, and the obvious benefits of vaccines.”
The vaccination schedule
At 2 months: pentavalent vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and infections with Haemophilus Pneumoniae b) and Hepatitis B. Simplified schedule: hexavalent vaccine (all six diseases at the same time).
At 3 months: pentavalent vaccine (2nd injection) and Hepatitis B (2nd injection). Simplified schedule: pentavalent vaccine (without hepatitis B).
At 4 months: pentavalent vaccine (3rd injection). Simplified schedule: hexavalent vaccine (all six diseases at the same time).
At 12 months: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and 3rd injection of Hepatitis B (it can be performed between 5 and 12 months after the date of the second injection).
Between 13 and 24 months: 2nd injection of the MMR
Around 16-18 months: first booster of pentavalent (or hexavalent vaccine if simplified schedule)
What about BCG?
When the vaccination schedule was published in 2007, we learned that the tuberculosis vaccine (BCG), which was once compulsory for all children, especially when they register with a community (nursery, nursery school), was no more than ” highly recommended “for certain at-risk children. These are mainly children “coming from a highly endemic country or whose parents are from such a country”. A recommendation for vaccination of infants from birth is also maintained “in high-risk regions”, such as Guyana and Ile-de-France.
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