Eurosurveillance - Volume 8, Issue 6, 01 June 2003

A total of 17 928 measles cases were reported to EUVAC.NET in 2001-02, with a 41% increase between the 2 years, giving a crude incidence of 2.36 and 3.37 per 100 000 population respectively. Most reported cases were aged 1-9 years. Outbreak related measles cases amounted to 18% of reported cases in 2001 and 20% in 2002. Less than 1% of cases were known to be imported in 2001 and 2002. Encephalitis as a severe complication was reported in 21 in 2001 and 6 cases 2002. One death attributed to measles was reported in 2001. The proportion of reported cases with known vaccination status increased from 56% of cases in 2001 to 72% in 2002. Overall, the proportion of reported measles cases that were unvaccinated rose from 50% in 2001 to 66% in 2002.

The WHO strategy for measles elimination in Europe includes the strengthening of surveillance and immunisation programmes in collaboration with European specific networks (EUVAC.NET and CCEE-Baltic) and Member States.

A knowledge, attitude and practice study on vaccinations was undertaken among Irish parents and healthcare professionnels between May and August 2001. Parents expressed fear of vaccine side effects, mistrust of health services, and felt poorly informed on the vac-cination issues. According to group discussions, health professionnals felt they lack time and user-friendly materials to properly inform the parents.

This article presents results of the main measures on vaccine coverage carried out in France in children up to six years of age. Vaccine coverage is very high for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and poliomyelitis, and satisfactory for vaccination against Haemophilus influen-zae b invasive infections. It will be necessary, however, to increase vaccine coverage against measles, mumps and rubella in infants and to ensure efficient catch up. Hepatitis B vaccine coverage is deficient in infants and could be improved when the vaccine is available in a combined form.

A study was undertaken to assess influenza vaccine uptake in risk groups and to get insight into vaccination practices in European countries. Questionnaires were completed by national influenza experts from 26 coun-tries. Only 14 were able to provide uptake rates for the elderly. For the other risk groups, even fewer could provide data. Vaccines are usually administred by GPs. Financial incentives for physicians and patients might work as a strategy to increase uptake rates, but due to the small amount of data, it was not possible to carry out thorough multivariate analyses. The development of a uniform influenza vaccination monitoring method was recommended to allow for comparision of uptake data in Europe.