Evolution of hepatitis B vaccine coverage rates in France between 2008 and 2011.

Unlabelled: High vaccine coverage rates were reached for hepatitis B vaccination in teenagers nearly two decades ago (1995), but controversy sharply decreased the rate of vaccination in France, requiring high remobilization in its favor and careful monitoring of vaccine coverage rates. We report the results of Vaccinoscopie(®) survey which has monitored the yearly evolution of vaccine coverage rates since 2008.

Method: A representative national sample of 5250 mothers was recruited in 2011: 3000 mothers of infants (1000 for each of the following age range: 0-11 months, 12-23 months, and 24-35 months of age) and 2250 mothers of teenagers. They all answered a self-administered questionnaire on the Internet and reported all vaccinations included in their child's health record.

Results: In 2011, 82.4% (CI 95%: 77.6-87.1) of infants 6-8 months of age were given hepatitis B vaccination before six months of age and 71.9% (CI 95%: 66.3-77.5) of children 24-26 months of age were fully immunized before 24 months of age. France should reach its objectives for infants thanks to the hexavalent vaccine, but this is not the case for teenagers since in 2011, at 14-16 years of age, only 55.4% (CI 95%: 53.3-57.4) had started their vaccination schedule and 37.4% (CI 95%: 35.4-39.4) were fully vaccinated.

Conclusion: This recent data, specially concerning teenagers, should lead to corrective measures rapidly to reach vaccine coverage targets for this vaccination.