Key Points

• Among the 0–17 age group, SARS-CoV-2 circulation was, in week 2022-S38 (September 19–25, 2022), increasing among those aged 11 and older and decreasing among younger children. The highest incidence (479 per 100,000) was observed among 11- to 14-year-olds.

• Vaccination coverage as of September 26, 2022, is high among 12- to 17-year-olds (81.0% had received their full primary vaccination series and 17.8% a booster), but has changed very little (80.3% and 15.3%, respectively, at the end of March 2022), and remains low among 5- to 9-year-olds and 10- to 11-year-olds (2.7% and 8.3%, respectively, with a complete primary vaccination series).

• The number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 increased slightly in week 2022-S37.

• Data from the PICURe network do not indicate any change in the severity of hospitalized cases. The proportion of children with comorbidities among those admitted for COVID-19 to critical care units has been higher since the Omicron variant was circulating than it was during the Delta variant period.

• As of September 18, 2022, and since the start of the epidemic, 1,074 cases of PIMS (pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome secondary to COVID-19) have been reported. These cases primarily affect children aged 3 to 11 years. The wave of COVID-19 that occurred during the summer of 2022, primarily caused by the Omicron BA.5 sublineage, was followed by a small number of PIMS cases: four cases have occurred since the beginning of August.