The CIM Public Health gives the green light to the principle of vaccination of 16-17 year olds with the Pfizer vaccine. She is also exploring the possibility of allowing informed young people to opt for the Johnson & Johnson or Astra Zeneca vaccines.
From now on, the vaccination of young people aged 16-17 also
The Interministerial Conference (CIM) Public Health agreed on the principle of allowing vaccination against COVID-19 to young people aged 16 and 17, according to the modalities to be developed by the Task Force. The Pfizer vaccine, which has received approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for this age group, will be used. At the start of this year, 16-17 year old trainees in nursing homes were already able to benefit from this vaccine.
The vaccination of this age group carried out in the wake of that of 18-year-olds. From July, they will start to receive an invitation for the first dose.
The adolescents aged 16 to 17 most at risk (known as “with comorbidity”) will be vaccinated as a priority.
Under the Patients’ Rights Act, these young people are allowed to decide for themselves whether to be vaccinated. Parental consent is not necessary because, in this age group, the adolescent is recognized as being of “medical majority”. He is considered capable of making this decision himself.
Vaccination of children under 16 is not yet considered. Complementary scientific and ethical analyzes are necessary for this purpose.
Uncertainty related to deliveries leads CIM to seek alternatives to maintain the pace of vaccinations
Last week, the ICD decided to temporarily impose an age limit of 41 years for the Janssen (J&J) vaccine following a very rare side effect involving severe thrombosis associated with a drop in the number of platelets after the vaccination.
Delays in the delivery of this vaccine and this age limit may slow down the progress of the vaccination campaign somewhat. In a context where the arrival of new variants remains possible, it therefore remains crucial that, in the context of the fight against the pandemic, everyone can benefit from a complete vaccination as quickly as possible.
The CIM therefore asks the Task Force – taking into account what is being done in the European member states – to study if and how it is desirable and possible to allow young people between the ages of 18 and 40 to make a choice. enlightened in favor of vaccination with J&J or Astra-Zeneca. This would allow citizens to make this choice on a voluntary basis in order to be vaccinated. “On a voluntary basis” means that anyone who does not opt for this solution can still continue to benefit from an mRNA vaccine. The Task Force will examine in more detail how this informed choice vaccination option could be put into practice, paying attention to the legal and operational aspects of both the invitation to the vaccination and the reservation of the timing of this vaccination. . The CIM will make its decision on the basis of this analysis and the complementary study of the balance of benefits and risks of the various vaccines.
This press release is jointly drafted on behalf of the ministers forming the Interministerial Conference on Public Health:
- Wouter Beke – Flemish Government, (CIM President)
- Frank Vandenbroucke – Federal Government
- Christie Morreale – Walloon Government
- Valérie Glatigny – Government of the French Community
- Bénédicte Linard – Government of the French Community
- Alain Maron – Common Community Commission and French Community Commission
- Elke Van den Brandt – Common Community Commission and Flemish Community Commission
- Antonios Antoniadis – Government of the German-speaking Community
and Pedro Facon, Government Commissioner Corona.
The Interministerial Public Health Conference is organized and supported by the Health Care DG of the SPF SPSCAE.
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