[Seasonal influenza vaccination coverage of general practitioners and their patients. Practice survey of French general practitioners after vaccination campaign 2011-2012]

Abstract

Background: In France, vaccination coverage against seasonal influenza for risk groups was inadequate: 55.2% of people aged 65 and older, and 33% of the 16-64 year group with chronic targeted disorders were vaccinated in March 2012. Three quarters of general practitioners were vaccinated. Our objective was to estimate the influence of the vaccination status of general practitioners on vaccine coverage of their patients at risk.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent in March 2012 to a sample of 500 general practitioners. Their professional characteristics, vaccination status against seasonal influenza and the determinants of these vaccinations were collected and compared to the vaccine coverage of their patients obtained from the French healthcare fund.

Results: Self-reported vaccination coverage of the 225 general practitioners respondents was 81.3%. There was a positive correlation with age greater than 50 years, high activity level, rural practice and the absence of particular mode of exercise. The doctors wanted to be vaccinated to protect themselves and protect their patients or their family. Of the 42 doctors unvaccinated, 42.5% feared the side effects of the vaccine, 40% considered influenza to be a benign illness and 32.5% considered low risk of catching or spreading it. The vaccination rate for patients aged 65 and older was 62.3% among 147 doctors vaccinated versus 58.3% in unvaccinated 31 physicians (P<0.0001). These rates were 39% versus 36.7% (P=0.29) for patients with chronic targeted disorders.

Conclusion: This study shows a positive association between the reported vaccination of general practitioners and effective influenza vaccination of their patients aged 65 years and older. This result is less clear for patients with chronic targeted disorders. All this findings argue in favor of promoting seasonal influenza vaccination among general practitioners.

Keywords: Couverture vaccinale; General practitioner; Grippe saisonnière; Médecin généraliste; Seasonal influenza; Vaccine coverage.