A comparison of health policies, public opinion and vaccination rates in France and Germany

Abstract

Abstract Objectives France and Germany have different approaches towards childhood immunisation. The aim of this study was to determine the similarities and differences between France and Germany in terms of heath policies, vaccination rates and public opinion as far as infant vaccinations were concerned. Study design Literature review. Subject and methods We used the databases of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and of Santé publique France (SpF) to compare the vaccination rates of children in the year 2017. The state of public opinion was principally assessed by comparing data from SpF and the German Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA). Results Vaccination rates were higher in French pre-school children in 2017 for the hexavalent and anti-pneumococcal vaccines, whereas Measles–Mumps–Rubella and anti-meningococcal vaccination rates were higher in Germany. Public opinion was more favourable towards vaccines in Germany than in France. Some vaccines, especially against seasonal influenza and hepatitis B, were viewed with criticism in France, whereas German parents considered hepatitis B immunisation to be important for their children. Moreover, both countries showed higher immunisation rates in northern regions. This correlated with the state of vaccine confidence in France. In Germany, eastern regions were more favourable towards vaccines, which correlated with higher immunisation rates in these regions. Conclusions The state of vaccine confidence seemed to correlate with immunisation rates in both countries. The need for information about vaccines is still high in both countries and trust in the medical community as well as in the immunisation policymakers should be reinforced as a priority.