2002 Vaccination Coverage Survey

Vaccination Coverage for Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Polio Among Adults

There is little data on vaccination coverage among adults. In 2007, the InVS analyzed data from the Health and Social Protection Survey conducted by the IRDES in 2002 on a representative sample of households in metropolitan France. Information on vaccination was collected using a self-administered questionnaire among individuals aged 16 and older. The survey showed that the proportion of people vaccinated within the past 15 years—that is, considered to be protected by vaccination—was clearly insufficient, at 71.2% for tetanus, 41.9% for polio, and 33.7% for diphtheria. Data from this survey were used to identify factors associated with tetanus vaccination coverage and knowledge of tetanus vaccination status. Two demographic variables were associated solely with vaccination coverage (higher coverage among men and in certain regions of residence), whereas two socioeconomic variables were associated solely with knowledge of vaccination status (greater awareness among individuals from high-income families and among managers/professionals and employees). Vaccination coverage and awareness of vaccination status both decreased with lower levels of education, among residents of large urban areas, and among those without private supplemental health insurance. Both of these indicators were associated with age but in opposite directions. The authors of this study concluded that the factors influencing tetanus vaccination coverage were primarily demographic, whereas socioeconomic factors appeared to influence awareness of vaccination status most significantly. This information could be useful for targeting public health initiatives and tailoring messages to the least-covered and least-informed groups.