Anti-HPV Vaccination Campaign at College: ANSM Updates and Post-Vaccination Monitoring

2023-11-16 15:56:17

Nearly 20,000 vaccines were injected as part of the anti-HPV vaccination campaign at college.

The National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) has updated the document for the attention of health professionals [1, 2]covering the adverse effects associated with vaccination once morest human papillomavirus (HPV) and what to do following the injection.

This document was developed in support of the first French anti-HPV vaccination campaign in middle schools, which began at the start of the 2023 school year (cf. Boxed).

Box – First anti-HPV vaccination campaign in middle schools: organization and target

In France, vaccination once morest HPV is recommended for all girls and boys aged 11 to 14. [3] according to a 2-dose schedule.

HPV vaccination prevents up to 90% of HPV infections, which are often non-symptomatic but cause precancerous lesions and/or cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina and anus. .

To improve vaccination coverage in the adolescent population (currently 41.5% among girls and 8.5% among boys), a first vaccination campaign is being deployed in French colleges. [4]. It targets 5th grade students.

In order to respect the vaccination strategy in force, the campaign is organized in 2 periods spaced 6 months apart:

fall 2023: first injection campaign spring 2024: second injection campaign

Parental authorization is required.

Post-vaccination monitoring: lay the adolescent down or sit them on the floor

More specifically, the update of this document concerns the box relating to 15-minute post-vaccination monitoring, in order to take into account the risk of falling in the event of discomfort or syncope and its consequences. During the monitoring period, the ANSM recommends:

either to lay the adolescent down on floor mats or blankets; or to sit on the ground leaning once morest a wall, in a clear space.

The ANSM emphasizes that discomfort (or even brief loss of consciousness) occurring following injection of the HPV vaccine is uncommon and resolves quickly. They may correspond to a psychogenic reaction to the injection, and be accompanied by tremors or stiffness.

A fatal fall in Loire-Atlantique

The adjustment of the instructions by the ANSM follows the death of a 5th grade student attending a college in Loire-Atlantique. According to information communicated by the Pays de la Loire Regional Health Agency (ARS), the teenager died at the end of October following head trauma caused by a « heavy fall » following vagal discomfort. This discomfort occurred within 15 minutes following the HPV vaccine injection. The ARS Pays de la Loire announced the opening of an investigation.

According to the first figures revealed at the end of October by the Minister of Health and Prevention, Aurélien Rousseau, nearly 20,000 vaccines were injected as part of the anti-HPV vaccination campaign in middle schools.

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