R Cohen1, C Levy, S Bechet, A Elbez, F Corrard. 1. ACTIV (Association clinique et therapeutique infantile du Val-de-Marne), 94100 Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France. activ@wanadoo.fr
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To assess the acceptability of a vaccine against meningococcus B by pediatricians and GP and to analyze how the vaccine could be implemented in France, InfoVac-France has set up a national survey. METHODS: An email explained the purpose of this study and the practitioners of InfoVac-France network answered an online questionnaire (e-CRF). RESULTS: Of the 6905 pediatricians and GP who saw the mail sent by InfoVac-France between 11 and 24 January, 2012, 1351 (13.5 %) completed the e-CERF : 361 GP (26.7%), 797 pediatricians (59%) and 193 other doctors (14.3%). The majority of practitioners (96.1%) believe that is important to implement a vaccine against meningococcus B in the French immunization schedule. In 80.5% of cases, practitioners do not want to vaccine three times routinely during a single consultation and more than half (53.5%) would prefer to use this vaccine alone. The best schedule of primary vaccination (80.6%) is the injection at 3, 5 and 6 months. The arguments considered likely to encourage parents to accept the vaccination would be the incidence of the disease, severity of meningitis (82.1%) and the rapid mortality (82.8%). CONCLUSION: This survey by InfoVac-France shows that the practitioners know the epidemiology of meningococcal B invasive disease in children. They would support the implementation of this vaccine for children under 2 years with a primary vaccination at 3, 5 and 6 months.
BACKGROUND: To assess the acceptability of a vaccine against meningococcus B by pediatricians and GP and to analyze how the vaccine could be implemented in France, InfoVac-France has set up a national survey. METHODS: An email explained the purpose of this study and the practitioners of InfoVac-France network answered an online questionnaire (e-CRF). RESULTS: Of the 6905 pediatricians and GP who saw the mail sent by InfoVac-France between 11 and 24 January, 2012, 1351 (13.5 %) completed the e-CERF : 361 GP (26.7%), 797 pediatricians (59%) and 193 other doctors (14.3%). The majority of practitioners (96.1%) believe that is important to implement a vaccine against meningococcus B in the French immunization schedule. In 80.5% of cases, practitioners do not want to vaccine three times routinely during a single consultation and more than half (53.5%) would prefer to use this vaccine alone. The best schedule of primary vaccination (80.6%) is the injection at 3, 5 and 6 months. The arguments considered likely to encourage parents to accept the vaccination would be the incidence of the disease, severity of meningitis (82.1%) and the rapid mortality (82.8%). CONCLUSION: This survey by InfoVac-France shows that the practitioners know the epidemiology of meningococcal B invasive disease in children. They would support the implementation of this vaccine for children under 2 years with a primary vaccination at 3, 5 and 6 months.