[Vaccination coverage in 6-year-old preschool children, France, 2005-2006]

School-based triennial surveys have been implemented in France since 1999 in order to follow up indicators estimating children's health status, including vaccination coverage.

The survey was conducted in 2005-2006 in preschools, using a two-stage cross-sectional sampling design (first sampling schools, with pupils then randomly chosen).

Among all the children targeted by the survey, 21,346 of them were selected to show their health booklet (carnet de santé) in which the vaccination part was completed. Vaccination coverage was high for vaccines against tuberculosis (BCG 96.8 %), diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis (four doses: 95.6 %), pertussis (four doses: 95.0 %), Haemophilus influenzae type b (four doses: 89.9 %) and for the first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR 93.7 %, 91.4 %, 91.4 %). It was low for the second dose of MMR (45.1 %, 43.2 %, and 43.3 %) and for hepatitis B (37.9 %). The region where the child attended school, the size of the urban unit, the school sector, the father's profession, and the child's birth rank were associated with MMR (second dose) and hepatitis B coverage.

In 2005-2006, vaccination coverage for BCG, DTPolio, pertussis, and Hib was stable and satisfactory in 6-year-old children. MMR (first dose) and hepatitis B coverage were insufficient. MMR coverage (second dose) had increased since 2002 but still needs to be improved.