The High Authority for Health (HAS) recommended Monday, July 31 the obligation of vaccination of caregivers against measles, on the other hand it considers that it is not desirable to do the same for vaccination against influenza, even if that – this is highly recommended.
The health authority, whose opinions are generally followed by the government, thus recommends “to implement for professionals an obligation of immunization against measles, and to maintain the recommendations for vaccination against whooping cough, influenza, Hepatitis A and Chickenpox,” according to a statement.
This opinion follows the publication at the end of March of a first part on the vaccines imposed on caregivers (Covid-19, diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis and hepatitis B). It was on this occasion that she recommended lifting the obligation on vaccines against Covid-19, a decision then endorsed by the government.
A risk in the hospital environment
This new advisory concerns vaccines that are currently only recommended. They include vaccination against whooping cough, influenza, hepatitis A, measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox. The only notable change concerns measles. The HAS is now in favor of an obligation, taking note of the effectiveness of existing vaccines and the risk represented by the disease in the hospital environment, in particular in babies.
On the other hand, while continuing to recommend that caregivers get vaccinated against the flu, the authority considers that an obligation would be unjustified in the current state of knowledge. The HAS, which regrets the low proportion of caregivers who get vaccinated against the flu, points to the irregularity of the effectiveness of flu vaccines from one year to another. It also recognizes a lack of data on the real risk represented by the circulation of influenza in health establishments.
As for the other vaccinations mentioned, the authority takes a similar position: it maintains its recommendation without inciting the obligation.
