Vaccination coverage among adolescents in certain provinces of Greece.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the vaccination coverage in a sample of adolescents in Greece.


METHODS
Vaccination status was estimated in 483 adolescents aged 15-19 y in four prefectures. The criteria for full vaccination were based on the recommendations of the Greek National Vaccination Schedule.


RESULTS
The participation rate in the study was 78.7% (380/483 adolescents). The rates of full vaccination were 94.2% for poliomyelitis, 78.4% for hepatitis B, 77.4% for BCG, 65.0% for tetanus and 54.4% for diphtheria. The rates of full vaccination for measles, rubella and mumps were 65.0%, 57.6%, and 56.0%, respectively. For pertussis, the full vaccination rate was only 36.0%, and 7.1% of the study population was totally unvaccinated. The most missed dose for all vaccines was the final booster dose, which is usually administered in older children or adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescent vaccination coverage was not satisfactory in this study, mainly due to non-compliance to the final booster dose. Completion of missing vaccines at this age represents the last opportunity for massive intervention and would be of essential value for individual and community protection against common preventable diseases.
Bitsori
Maria
M
Department of Paediatrics, Infectious Diseases Unit, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece.
Ntokos
Michail
M
Kontarakis
Nikolaos
N
Sianava
Ourania
O
Ntouros
Thomas
T
Galanakis
Emmanouil
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007117:Immunization, Secondary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*