Key points

In Infants

• Mandatory vaccination against meningococcal ACWY has been in effect since January 1, 2025, for infants following an increase in cases of invasive meningococcal infections of types W and Y. This has led to high vaccination coverage, with nearly 75.4% of infants in Guadeloupe and 76.3% in Martinique born in the first quarter of 2025 having received the first dose of the meningococcal ACWY vaccine. Among children born in 2024 who were vaccinated against meningococcal C, 62.9% in Guadeloupe and 50.5% in Martinique had received at least one dose of the tetravalent ACWY meningococcal vaccine by the age of 21 months. This vaccination coverage is lower than that estimated for children born in 2023 against meningococcal C at the same age. It should be noted that vaccination started with a monovalent C vaccine before January 1, 2025, in infants must theoretically be continued with a tetravalent ACWY vaccine.
• In 2025, the year the mandatory vaccination against meningococcal B for infants up to age 2 was implemented, vaccination coverage against these infections increased significantly in Guadeloupe and Martinique, with, respectively, 49.5% and 50.2% of infants born in 2024 (aged 21 months) up to date with their vaccinations (compared to 30.9% in Guadeloupe and 38.8% in Martinique in 2024).
• Vaccination coverage for other mandatory infant vaccinations is generally low, with levels below the 95% target set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Furthermore, given the resurgence of measles virus circulation in France since 2024, it is important to note that vaccination coverage with two doses against measles, mumps, and rubella must exceed this target to interrupt the circulation of the virus, which can lead to deaths among vulnerable individuals. Verifying and updating this vaccination status is essential for both children and young adults.

In adolescents and young adults

• Given the potential severity and increased frequency of invasive meningococcal infections during adolescence, vaccination against meningococcal ACWY is recommended for adolescents, as well as catch-up vaccination for young adults. In 2025, only 4.6% and 4.2% of 11- to 14-year-olds in Guadeloupe and Martinique, respectively, had received a dose of this vaccine. This percentage is even lower among 15- to 24-year-olds, at 1.9% across both territories. Vaccination against meningococcal ACWY must be stepped up in this age group. Incorporating this vaccination into campaigns conducted in middle schools starting in 2026 will help strengthen protection for young people against these infections. Efforts to improve vaccination coverage must continue in order to achieve herd immunity and reduce the circulation of meningococcal bacteria in other age groups.
• Vaccination coverage against human papillomavirus (HPV) infections continues to increase, with 25.3% of girls and 10.0% of boys aged 16 in Guadeloupe having completed the full vaccination series. In Martinique, vaccination coverage with a full series among 16-year-olds is slightly lower, at 19.5% for girls and 8.8% for boys. This progress is encouraging, but vaccination coverage remains insufficient to reduce the incidence of cancers linked to these infections. The national target set by the 10-year cancer control strategy is 80% for girls and boys by 2030. To achieve this goal, efforts must also continue to accelerate HPV vaccination uptake by leveraging vaccination campaigns in middle schools and reinforcing messages about the importance of vaccinating boys.
  Vaccinating boys is just as essential as vaccinating girls for equitable and sustainable protection.

Vaccination uptake

According to the 2024 Santé publique France Barometer, 63.7% of 18- to 25-year-olds in Guadeloupe and 75.1% in Martinique report being in favor of vaccination. Vaccination uptake in the French West Indies is generally lower than the national rate, which is close to 80%.