Vaccination schedule: what changes for 2024?

The vaccination schedule sets out the vaccinations applicable to people residing in France according to their age. It issues, after consulting the High Health Authority (HAS), general and specific recommendations specific to specific situations (increased risks of complications, exposure or transmission) or occupational exposures.

The 2024 vaccination schedule has just been made public by the Ministry of Health. It is subject to update in the light of the latest vaccination news.

Key News from the 2024 Vaccination Schedule

Vaccination against meningococcal infections

The High Health Authority reports that the number of cases of invasive meningococcal infections increased by 72% between 2022 and 2023.

Tetravalent ACWY vaccination is therefore recommended in the new schedule for infants and adolescents aged 11 to 14 years. With catch-up vaccination in individuals aged 15 to 24 years. Only serogroup B was previously affected.

The new vaccine requirement against ACWY and B serogroups in infants is expected to come into effect on 1^er january 2025, after the publication of the statutory instruments.

Vaccination against pneumococcal infections

A new vaccine is introduced for pneumococcal vaccination, mandatory for infants: the 15-valent conjugate vaccine Vaxneuvance^R can be used as soon as it is available and covered by the Health Insurance.

For adults over 18 years at risk of invasive pneumococcal disease, vaccination should preferably be done with one dose of 20-valent conjugate vaccine Prevenar^R, as soon as it is available and covered by the Health Insurance.

Herpes zoster vaccination

Vaccination is recommended in people aged 65 years and over and in immunocompromised older adults aged 18 years and over.

Measles vaccination

To ensure better protection, an additional dose of MMR. (measles, mumps, rubella) is recommended for individuals born after 1980 who received their first vaccination before one year of age.

COVID-19 and papillomavirus (HPV) infections

• Vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended annually in the fall for people aged 65 years and older and people at risk of severe COVID-19. An additional dose of vaccine is recommended in the spring for people aged 80 years and older, immunocompromised people, and residents in EHPAD and USLD (long-term care units), with a delay of at least 3 months since the last dose of vaccine or infection.
• HPV vaccination is recommended for girls and boys aged 11 to 14 years with a 2-dose schedule 6 months apart. In addition, for those who have not been vaccinated at 14 years of age, catch-up vaccination is recommended for young women and young men between 15 and 19 years of age inclusive (3 doses necessary in this case).

Booster shots

The vaccination course consists of 6 appointments and 10 injections (with combined vaccines) to protect against 11 diseases in total. Most vaccinations are given during the mandatory examinations of the child. All children born from 1^er january 2018 are affected by the vaccination obligation.

Mandatory vaccines include the following:

• diphtheria;
• tetanus;
• polio;
• Haemophilius influenzae B (bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis);
• pertussis;
• hepatitis B;
• measles;
• mumps;
• rubella;
• meningococcal C (bacteria that cause meningitis);
• pneumococcus (bacteria causing pneumonia and meningitis).

For more information on the current vaccination schedule, see the dedicated card of Service-Public.fr.