THE EVOLUTION OF VACCINATION STRATEGIES I N FRANCE

Although the vaccine against hepatitis B was a French discovery, certa in international authorities had declared that ''in matters of vaccina tion against hepatitis B, France did not have world leadership''. The distribution of the vaccine was indeed too much limited to health prof essional in the years following its commercialization in 1981; sales r emained modest and were limited to public institutions. Only in the la st few years has there been decisive progress (both in public and priv ate sectors), thanks to information campaigns and political decisions awakening awareness to the fact that the whole population was concerne d and that young adolescents constituted a target group which should b e urgently taken into account (since late 1994). It thus seemed necess ary to follow, from 1981 to 1996, the development of vaccine sales and rates of vaccination, as well as to carry out an instantaneous observ ation through a survey organized by the SOFRES and Smith Kline Beecham , which will be presented in detail. For 1995 only, there were as many persons vaccinated throughout France as for the 14 previews years pre ceding the marketing of the vaccine (1981). For the 13-15 years age gr oup, an exemplary vaccination rate of 65 % was attained. Through the a stute use of information and the motivation of those concerned (young people), the ''reticence'' of the French people towards vaccination ca n be overcome and decisive progress can be made in fighting a serious and sometimes mortal disease, against which we have a remarkable and e ffective weapon which has, however been underused until now.