title: Comparative coverage of supplementary and universally recommended immunizations in children at 24 months of age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The introduction of pneumococcal and meningococcal group C conjugate vaccinations as supplementary (a new category in Swiss immunization recommendations) to universally recommended vaccinations in 2006 prompted this study to investigate their acceptance.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed in 24-month-old healthy children born in the Geneva or Basel areas in Switzerland between January and April 2007. After informed consent had been obtained from caregivers (for this particular study in Basel and in general for providing immunization data in Geneva on an ongoing basis), all universally recommended and supplementary vaccinations administered by ≤24 months of age were analyzed for completeness and timeliness according to set definitions. Sample size calculations and standard statistical tests were applied for comparative data analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 592 children at the age of 12 months, 94% and 73% had received complete diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis component combination and pneumococcal conjugate vaccinations, respectively. At the age of 24 months, coverage rates for complete booster doses were 77% and 70%, respectively. Rates for MMR doses 1 and 2 at 24 months were 92% and 72%, respectively, and the rate for meningococcal conjugate vaccine (single dose) was 62%. On an average, coverage rates were similar in the 2 study regions except those for pneumococcal conjugate and second dose of MMR, which were approximately 10% higher in Geneva.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compliance with supplementary vaccinations was lower than that with universally recommended vaccinations. This can be explained by the recent introduction of supplementary vaccinations or by the public perception that they are less important than universal vaccinations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, University Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Salome
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hug
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weibel
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delaporte
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gervaix
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Heininger
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007223:Infant; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013557:Switzerland; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines