Vaccine sales fell sharply in France in the first half of 2015 compared to 2014. A shortage and parents’ mistrust would explain the phenomenon.
Vaccination of toddlers is on the decline in France! Global sales of DT-Polio type vaccines (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Polio) by pharmacies fell by 14.5% in the first half of 2015, compared to the first half of 2014, the Institut de Veille Sanitaire (InVS) confirmed to the press on Wednesday, after revelations from the Chained duck on this subject. In detail, sales of vaccines against whooping cough also fell (-14.6%), the same for those against meningitis (-15.1%).
A long-standing shortage
The weekly, which quotes a confidential note sent by the InVS to the General Directorate of Health (DGS) on July 28, provides two elements of response to explain this decline. It would be due first of all to the “shortage” of several of these vaccines in pharmacies.
Indeed, for months, some vaccines (BCG, Infanrix tetra, Infanrix quinta) cannot be found, in the Paris region in particular. And it is precisely those against diphtheria, tetanus and polio, yet compulsory for children who are going to go to school or nursery. Recently interviewed by Why actor, a pharmacist sounded the alarm, and called on the authorities to react, fearing a real risk of a resurgence of the diseases targeted by these vaccines.
The growing mistrust of parents
Furthermore, The chained Duck also evokes the growing mistrust of the French towards vaccination. A recent Ipsos survey revealed that nearly a third of them still do not trust vaccines. To allay these doubts, Marisol Touraine, Minister of Health, will organize a major public debate in the fall of 2015 in order to gather the opinion of the population. The goal of this action would ultimately be to fight against non-vaccination.
Obviously a good idea, since, according to an American study published in the journal PNAS, to convince parents opposed to vaccination, it is better to educate them about the dangers of the disease than to try to fight their false beliefs.
Fear of a drop in vaccine coverage
For its part, InVS remains cautious. Contacted byFrance Media Agency (AFP), the epidemiologist of the Institute, Daniel Lévy-Bruhl, justifies this withdrawal “probably” by the superposition of several phenomena, “in particular the establishment in April 2013 of a new vaccination schedule, with in particular a reduction to 11 months of the age of the first recall ”.
According to this immunization specialist, it is possible that the decline in sales of DTP could lead to a “small decrease in vaccination coverage” (ie the proportion of people vaccinated). But we can not say with certainty and we will have to wait for “more detailed data from health insurance on vaccine prescriptions that InVS will include in its full analysis expected in September,” he concludes.
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