European Immunization Week, April 23–29, 2018

cp-sev-2018.pdf

Published on 20 April 2018

Understanding Mandatory Infant Vaccinations

As mandatory infant vaccinations are being expanded, public health authorities and their partners are working closely with healthcare and early childhood professionals to address the public’s questions. This year’s focus is on infant vaccinations. To mark the occasion, Santé publique France is launching a campaign to promote the information website vaccination-info-service.fr and is releasing new data on vaccination coverage and vaccination uptake.

A public awareness campaign to promote the vaccination-info-service.fr website

On April 21, Santé publique France is launching a campaign to promote the institutional website vaccination-info-service.fr (via radio, print, and digital media), which will run through the end of June. The goal is to raise awareness of this informational website among the general public, particularly among expectant parents and parents of young children. One year after its launch, vaccination-info-service.fr has recorded more than two million unique visitors.

A new section on the vaccination-info-service.fr website specifically dedicated to healthcare professionals

This initial version includes sections on practical, regulatory, and legal matters, and explains vaccination protocols for individuals exposed to specific risks. This section will continue to evolve to better meet the needs of healthcare professionals. One year after its launch, the general public version of the site has recorded over two million unique visitors.

Data on vaccination coverage and uptake

Insufficient infant vaccination coverage for certain vaccines in 2017While infant vaccination coverage was high for mandatory vaccines in 2017 or those administered concurrently during the first year of life, it was insufficient for vaccines administered during the second year of life. For example, in 2017, vaccination coverage at age 2 against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR, two doses) and meningococcal C was 80% and 73%, respectively. The measles outbreak in France since November 2017 thus underscores how essential a 95% vaccination coverage rate by age 2 for the two doses of the MMR vaccine is to halt the spread of the virus.

Improved public acceptance of vaccinationData from the Santé publique France Health Barometer survey, collected between January and July 2017, show that more than three out of four people (78%) say they are in favor of vaccination in general (+3 percentage points compared to 2016).

European Immunization Week is coordinated in France by the Ministry of Health and Santé publique France. It is implemented in the regions by the Regional Health Agencies.