English summary: VERY HIGH INFANT VACCINATION COVERAGE, INTERNATIONAL "FALSE ALARMS" HAD NO EFFECT IN FINLAND

Background

Vaccination coverage has been high in Finland. In recent years the anti-vaccination movement has taken a more active role here. This study covers years when MMR coverage especially had dropped in several European countries.

Methods

A random sample of 1000 children born in 2001 and living in Finland were selected. Their vaccination data for the first 2-3 years of life was collected from the child health centres. Children were considered fully vaccinated if they had received all 12 doses recommended: 1 BCG, 4 DTP, 3 Hib, 3 polio, and 1 MMR. Vaccination coverage estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for overall immunisation, for specific vaccination series and for each specific dose. The cases with missed doses as well as the reasons for missing doses were analysed further.

Results

Vaccination data for 995 of the randomly selected 1000 children were received. The percentage of fully vaccinated children was 95.2% (95% CI 93.7-96.4). Immunisation coverage varied very little between individual vaccination series, being lowest with series containing doses scheduled for close to two years of age: 97.3% for DTP, polio and MMR, 98.3% for Hib and 98.5% for BCG. There were only 3 children with 5 or less doses. All in all the timing of the vaccinations was correct.

Conclusions

Immunisation coverage is high in Finland indicating parental confidence in vaccines. Vaccination schedules are also kept to fairly accurately, although some doses could be given slightly earlier.

Tästä asiasta tiedettiin

Rokotuskattavuus on ollut perinteisesti korkea Suomessa.

Kansainvälisten rokotuksiin liittyvien kohujen vuoksi etenkin MPR-kattavuus romahti vuosituhannen vaihteessa useissa Euroopan maissa.

Rokotuksiin kriittisesti suhtautuvat saavat Suomessakin runsaasti tilaa mediassa.

Tämä tutkimus opetti

Rokotuskattavuus on Suomessa edelleen hyvin korkea.

Kattavuusestimaatit ovat laumaimmuniteetin kynnysarvoja korkeammat, eli MPR-tautien, vakavien hemofilustautien, polion ja kurkkumädän suhteen rokottamattomatkin ovat väestössä suojassa.

Rokotukset annetaan Suomessa pääasiassa suositellun ikäisille, joskin on hiukan varaa aikaistaakin.