[Vaccination coverage of 2-year-old children in Geneva].

OBJECTIVE

To measure the immunization uptake among 2 year-old children living in Geneva.

METHODS

Review of the vaccination cards, systematically checked because of the compulsory vaccination against diphtheria, during the year in 1991.

RESULTS

3937 immunization cards were reviewed, ie. 93.6% of the children in the given age group. Immunization uptake rates were, for diphtheria and tetanus (3 doses) 96.8%; pertussis (3 doses) 96.1%; poliomyelitis (3 doses) 96.6%. For measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) (1 dose), 78.4%. For the Haemophilus influenzae b vaccine, recently introduced: 68.5%. The uptake rate for MMR was lower among children of swiss origin (75.5%) than among children of other nationalities (84.6%, p < 0.0001). The highest rates were found among children coming from southern Europe and Latin America.

CONCLUSIONS

From the point of view of the community risk, immunization uptake rates for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and poliomyelitis can be considered satisfactory. For MMR vaccine, the rate was higher than 2 years earlier, but still insufficient, compared to the level which could block the transmission of the target diseases in the population. The persistence of such a low rate of immunization uptake will not prevent the occurrence of epidemics in the population.