Abstract
BackgroundVaccination policy in France was previously characterised by the coexistence of eight recommended and three mandatory vaccinations for children younger than 2 years old. These 11 vaccines are now mandatory for all children born after 1 January 2018.AimTo study the French population’s opinion about this new policy and to assess factors associated with a positive opinion during this changing phase.MethodsA cross-sectional survey about vaccination was conducted from 16 November–19 December 2017 among the GrippeNet.fr cohort. Data were weighted for age, sex and education according to the French population. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with a favourable opinion on mandatory vaccines’ extension and defined in the ‘3Cs’ model by the World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts working group on vaccine hesitancy.ResultsOf the 3,222 participants (response rate 50.5%) and after adjustment, 64.5% agreed with the extension of mandatory vaccines. It was considered a necessary step by 68.7% of the study population, while 33.8% considered it unsafe for children and 56.9% saw it as authoritarian. Factors associated with a positive opinion about the extension of mandatory vaccines were components of the confidence, complacency and convenience dimensions of the ‘3Cs’ model.ConclusionsIn our sample, two thirds of the French population was in favour of the extension of mandatory vaccines for children. Perception of vaccine safety and benefits were major predictors for positive and negative opinions about this new policy.
Highlights
Vaccination suffers in several countries from growing scepticism [1,2]
The study population was composed of 62.9% women and 37.1% men, with a mean age of 52.7 years; 66.3% of respondents had a level of education higher than high school diploma
This work uses data from the GrippeNet.fr study to provide an overview of opinions about the new mandatory vaccination law in France, which has been in place since 1 January 2018, in the general population
Summary
Vaccination suffers in several countries from growing scepticism [1,2]. This complex phenomenon, known as ‘vaccine hesitancy’, is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a ‘delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccination services’ [3]. According to the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) working group on vaccine hesitancy, vaccination determinants belong to the ‘3Cs’ model, composed of confidence, convenience and complacency factors [4]. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with a favourable opinion on mandatory vaccines’ extension and defined in the ‘3Cs’ model by the World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts working group on vaccine hesitancy. Results: Of the 3,222 participants (response rate 50.5%) and after adjustment, 64.5% agreed with the extension of mandatory vaccines It was considered a necessary step by 68.7% of the study population, while 33.8% considered it unsafe for children and 56.9% saw it as authoritarian. Factors associated with a positive opinion about the extension of mandatory vaccines were components of the confidence, complacency and convenience dimensions of the ‘3Cs’ model. Perception of vaccine safety and benefits were major predictors for positive and negative opinions about this new policy
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