Vaccination coverage rates for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis and Pertussis booster vaccination in France between 2013 and 2017: Learnings from an analysis of National Health System Real-World Data.

BACKGROUND

Maintaining a high vaccination coverage rate (VCR) throughout the lifetime and complying with the National Immunization Program are essential to optimize the protection of the population. The study objectives were to evaluate the evolution of the VCRs and the compliance with the vaccination visits for the diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis and pertussis boosters in France since the changes implemented in the 2013 National Immunization Program.

METHODS

Cumulative booster VCRs were estimated at all vaccination visits, from 2013 to 2017, among persons eligible for a booster vaccination from a 1/97th random sample of French claims data. Broader age groups around the recommended ages by the vaccination schedule (6, 11-13, 25, 45, 65, 75, 85, 95y) were used: all persons aged 5 to 8, 10 to 15, 21 to 29, 41 to 49, 61 to 69, 71 to 79, 81 to 89 and 91 to 99.

RESULTS

Over the study period, the diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis booster VCRs increased, reaching in 2017: 73.3% at 8 years old, 75.6% at 15 years old, 46.6% at 29 years old, 38.4% at 49 years old, 36.3% at 69 years old, 30.8% at 79 years old, 22.1% at 89 years old and 11.0% at 99 years old. The pertussis VCRs were also increasing at all vaccination visits, in particular at the vaccination visits at 6 and 11-13 years old (from 16.4% to 63.8% and from 50.3% to 61.2%, respectively). Delayed vaccinations were observed at all vaccination visits.

CONCLUSION

VCRs for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis and Pertussis booster vaccination increased from 2013 to 2017 while remaining suboptimal across all ages and lower in the adult populations. The analysis also shows that the introduction in 2013 of a pertussis vaccination at 6 years of age was relatively well-established in 2017 while other changes in recommendations were slowly or partially implemented.