IMMUNIZATION UPTAKE AMONG 2-YEAR-OLD CHIL DREN IN GENEVA

Objective: To measure the immunization uptake among 2 year-old childre n living in Geneva. Methods: Review of the vaccination cards, systemat ically checked because of the compulsory vaccination against diphteria , during the year in 1991. Results: 3937 immunization cards were revie wed, ie. 93.6% of the children in the given age group. Immunization up take rates were, for diphteria and tetanos (3 doses) 96.8%; pertussis (3 doses) 96.1%; poliomyelitis (3 doses) 96.6%. For measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) (1 dose), 78.4%. For the Haemophilus influenzae b vaccine, recently introduced: 68.5%. The uptake rate for MMR was lo wer among children of swiss origine (75.5%) than among children of oth er nationalities (84.6%, p < 0.0001). The highest rates were found amo ng children coming from southern Europe and Latine America. Conclusion s: From the point of view of the community risk, immunization uptake r ates for diphteria, tetanos, pertussis and poliomyelitis can be consid ered satisfactory. For MMR vaccine, the rate was higher than 2 years e arlier, but still insufficient, compared to the level which could bloc k the transmission of the target diseases in the population. The persi stence of such a low rate of immunization uptake will not prevent the occurence of epidemics in the population.