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Vaccine coverage in France
A recent study reports a decline in the sale of vaccines in France in virtually all categories including pediatric vaccines. We take stock of this hot topic with Dr. Robert Cohen, pediatrician-infectious disease specialist and coordinator of the InfoVac vaccine information network.
Status of vaccination
Vaccine sales “fell sharply” in 2012 in France, in virtually all categories including pediatric vaccines. This is the conclusion of a study by IMS Health published on Wednesday. “These results do not reflect reality,” says Dr. Cohen. The vaccines cited in the review are no longer available such as the one against typhoid. In addition, today we no longer vaccinate separately against tetanus, rubella or hepatitis B. Most vaccines are combined. I do not understand these figures, they are biased. However, the specialist recognizes that vaccination coverage in France is insufficient. The report “Measuring vaccination coverage in France” published by the French public health watch institute in November 2012 confirmed that the vaccination coverage objectives set by the 2004 public health law (at least 95% for all vaccinations, except the influenza 75%) were not achieved for most vaccinations. Specifically, in children, immunization coverage rates met the target set for vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, polio and pertussis. But vaccine coverage was insufficient and stable in the case of HPV in young girls, whooping cough in adolescence, MMR first dose, ten-year DTP boosters in adults, BCG in children at risk. Finally, they were insufficient and declining for seasonal influenza. Results not amazing but ultimately reassuring for children. However, vigilance is required. The report underlines a lack of vaccination coverage which worsens with age and remains more marked for certain vaccines.
Insufficient vaccination coverage: the reasons for the blockage
It cannot be denied, the French do not vaccinate enough. The mistrust of the population towards vaccines is not new. It was fueled by the controversies surrounding hepatitis B vaccines, HPV (papillomavirus) or even against the H1N1 flu. “The need for vaccination is less obvious to public opinion because of the discrepancy felt between a risk considered to be quite low and possible undesirable effects, even rumors of harmfulness of vaccines which is widely propagated on the Internet”, indicates the Court. of the Accounts in its report on France’s vaccine policy made public last month. Anti-vaccinations are indeed few in number but very visible. Very active, the national league for the freedom of vaccinations denounces for 50 years the serious dangers of vaccines and advocates other means of disease prevention. “Every day we receive between 1 and 3 calls from parents who ask us how they can do to avoid having to vaccinate their children,” assures Jean-Marie Mora, president of the association. They are referred to conciliatory doctors who circumvent the obligations. For Dr. Cohen, these activists, who exist elsewhere in all countries, represent a minority percentage of parents.
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The importance of more effective communication about immunization
“The real problem, adds the specialist, is that the State, for lack of resources, does not sufficiently promote vaccination. A finding also underlined by the Court of Auditors. ” Strengthening vaccine communication is essential by a more systematic presence on the Internet. », Insists the high court. When you type “vaccine info” on the Google search engine, the sites that appear first are those of French, Belgian and Swiss anti-vaccine leagues presenting themselves as informative and no public site appears on the first page, deplores the Court of accounts. On the other hand, when you type “vaccine schedule”, public sites are very well represented but this search is much less intuitive. “