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Coverage rates and timeliness of nationally recommended vaccinations in Swiss preschool children: A descriptive
Rahel Schneider1, Daphne Reinau1, Nadine Schur2
1Basel Pharmacoepidemiology Unit, Division of Clinical Pharmacy and Epidemiology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 26, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland; Hospital Pharmacy, University Hospital Basel, Spitalstrasse 26, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
Insights
Low vaccination coverage and delayed immunizations in Swiss children risk disease outbreaks. Improving vaccination rates and timeliness is crucial for public health protection against preventable diseases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Immunization Science
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Incomplete and delayed vaccinations pose significant risks to both individual and population health.
- Vaccine-preventable diseases remain a threat due to suboptimal vaccination coverage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze vaccination patterns for recommended basic and supplementary vaccines in Swiss preschool children.
- To assess vaccination coverage rates and timeliness among different birth cohorts.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive study utilized administrative claims data from a large Swiss health insurer (Helsana).
- Examined cohorts of children born between 2010 and 2016, analyzing coverage for diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (DTaP), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), poliomyelitis (IPV), measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), as well as pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and meningococcal group C conjugate vaccine (MCV).
- Assessed vaccination timeliness using inverse Kaplan-Meier curves and extrapolated findings to the Swiss population.
Main Results:
- Coverage rates for all studied vaccinations generally increased across birth cohorts up to 2015.
- At 37 months, up-to-date vaccination status varied: DTaP (95.4%), Hib (94.9%), IPV (95.5%), MMR (86.8%), PCV (83.2%), and MCV (66.7%).
- Only 70% of children completed basic vaccinations and 60% completed supplementary vaccinations by 37 months; 4% received no recommended vaccines, with notable regional disparities and common delays, particularly for MMR (22.6% delayed).
Conclusions:
- Significant improvements in vaccination coverage are necessary in Switzerland to prevent future disease outbreaks.
- Increased emphasis on the timely administration of vaccines is essential for robust public health protection.
Background:
Low vaccination coverage as well as incomplete and delayed vaccinations pose a risk for the individual and population protection from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Aim:
To describe vaccination patterns for nationally recommended basic and supplementary vaccinations in Swiss preschool children.
Methods:
We performed a descriptive study based on administrative claims data from a large Swiss health insurer (Helsana), in cohorts of children born between January 2010 and December 2016. We assessed coverage rates of nationally recommended basic vaccinations (i.e., diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis [DTaP], Haemophilus influenzae type b [Hib], poliomyelitis [IPV], measles, mumps, and rubella [MMR]) and supplementary vaccinations (i.e., pneumococcal conjugate vaccine [PCV] and meningococcal group C conjugate vaccine [MCV]) for each birth cohort at the age of 13, 25, and 37 months. Additionally, we analysed timeliness of vaccinations using inverse Kaplan-Meier curves. Results were extrapolated to the Swiss population.
Results:
The study population comprised 563,216 children. We observed continuously increasing coverage rates for all vaccinations until the 2015 birth cohort. Overall, up-to-date status for the first dose of studied vaccinations at 37 months was as follows: DTaP: 95.4%; Hib: 94.9%; IPV: 95.5%; MMR: 86.8%; PCV: 83.2%; and MCV: 66.7%. On average, however, only seven out of ten children had an up-to-date status for completed basic vaccinations; even less (six out of ten) were up-to-date for recommended supplementary vaccinations at 37 months of age. Moreover, 4% of all analysed children received none of the recommended vaccinations and there were substantial regional differences. Delays in vaccine administration were common. The most frequently postponed basic vaccination was MMR; 22.6% of children vaccinated with the first dose experienced delays relative to age-appropriate standards.
Conclusion:
To avoid future outbreaks and transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccination coverage in Switzerland must be further improved. In addition, more emphasis should be placed on timely vaccination.
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