Hepatitis B vaccination coverage among children in France in 2014: significant progress among infants, stagnation among adolescents.
In France, vaccination against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is recommended for all infants, following a three-dose schedule. National vaccination coverage (VC) rates are estimated at 6 months of age using the General Practitioner Sample of Beneficiaries (EGB), at 24 months of age using children’s health certificates, and for older children and adolescents through the triennial school-based survey cycle. These various systems for collecting vaccination data involve multiple partners. We present the estimated VCs derived from these different sources since 2004, the year in which the VCs at 24 months did not exceed 30%. In total, 92.1% of children aged 6 months born in 2014 had started hepatitis B vaccination, compared to 24.6% for children born in 2004. This very sharp increase was particularly evident starting in 2008, when the vaccination coverage doubled. At 24 months of age, the three-dose vaccination coverage was 81.5% in 2013 and followed the same trend. That same year, three-dose coverage exceeding 80% was observed in 55% of departments, compared to 2% in 2008. The lack of usable data in 18 departments meant that regional estimates could be made for only 16 (61%) regions in 2013, an improvement compared to 2008 (10 (38%) regions). Beyond 24 months, coverage was 50.9% at age 6 (2013), 45.8% at age 11 (2008), and 43.1% at age 15 (2009). Hepatitis B vaccination coverage is rising sharply among infants. This trend is due to the inclusion of the hexavalent vaccine in the reimbursement program in 2008. It may also reflect greater acceptance of this vaccination by the public and healthcare professionals. Coverage remains very low among older children and adolescents, for whom catch-up campaigns must be strengthened.
Author(s): Guthmann JP, Fonteneau L, Collet M, Vilain A, Ragot M, Ben Boutieb M, Guignon N, Urcun JM, Levy Bruhl D
Publishing year: 2015
Pages: 499-504
Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2015, n° 26-27, p. 499-504
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