Health recommendations

Child health: new booklet and vaccine against meningitis

Publié le 09 janvier 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The new version of the child’s health booklet in effect since 1er January 2025 builds on the recommendations of the High Council on Public Health (HCSP) with personalized advice to parents and expanded protection for vaccination, including against meningococci. Service-Public.fr informs you about these new features.

A new version of the child’s health diary

This new health booklet aims to personalize medical follow-up with advice tailored to each age group. Parents are given specific recommendations about their child's health and well-being.

Prevention is an important aspect to take account of new health recommendations and societal developments. Messages to parents have been updated on:

  • counseling to raise a child without violence;
  • tables on the introduction of food;
  • advice about the child's sleep;
  • Advice on the use of screens;
  • benchmarks for detecting neurodevelopmental disorders.

Questions about exercising have also been added.

All 20 mandatory health examinations are now detailed, with the creation of a new examination at the age of six.

Learn more : consult the press release published on the website of the Ministry of Health and Access to Care.

FYI  

The New Health Notebook should be given to the child’s primary care physician to complete missing data (e.g. vaccinations) from his or her own record. It is also advisable to record the vaccinations of the child in the electronic vaccination booklet of My health space (shared medical record).

Reminder

The health record is an essential tool for parents and health care practitioners, ensuring medical follow-up throughout a child's growth. It is issued free of charge at the maternity ward by the departmental council. The dematerialization of the health notebook should be integrated into the child’s digital health space (My Health Space) by the end of 2026. It will also remain available in paper format.

A New Meningococcal Vaccine Requirement

Since 1er January 2025, a new vaccination requirement for infants has entered into force against ACWY meningococci and against meningococcus B. Meningococcal C vaccination, already mandatory since 2018, is being replaced by ACWY meningococcal vaccination. Meningococcal B vaccination, which has been recommended so far, is now mandatory. These new obligations are in addition to the 11 mandatory vaccines since 2018. This decision was made in response to the increase in meningitis cases in France and the evolution of strains.

This change in vaccination requirements follows the recommendations of the High Health Authority and the Decree of 5 July 2024 on the vaccination obligation against meningococci of type B and ACWY. It is included in the updated vaccination schedule.

Learn more : consult the press release published on the website of the Ministry of Health and Access to Care

FYI  

Vaccination against ACWY meningococci is also strongly recommended in adolescents aged 11 to 14 years.

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