Traveling children: Current situation and compliance with hepatitis A vaccination recommendations

Abstract

Context: Vaccination of traveling children does not seem to be the primary concern for families when preparing for a trip abroad. Few data concerning the hepatitis A vaccine are available in minors traveling outside France.

Objectives: The present study aimed to assess whether the vaccination recommendation against hepatitis A was followed in the population of children traveling outside of France. The secondary objectives were to explore the reasons for non-compliance with vaccination recommendations and assess the frequency of minors travelling abroad in the study settings.

Population and methods: This was a monocentric observational study conducted within a pediatric practice located in the Nancy metropolitan area through the distribution of a questionnaire upon arrival in the waiting room. Inclusion criteria were: age between 1 and 18 years, regular pediatric follow-up within the practice, and absence of language barriers.

Results: 477 questionnaires were included, evaluating the proportion of traveling children (outside of France) at 59 % of our population (n = 282). The leading destination remained Western Europe (36 %), but 64 % of children have already traveled to an area where vaccination against hepatitis A before departure is recommended. However, only 10.5 % of patients had received one dose of vaccination before traveling, and only 2.2 % had completed vaccination. The reasons for non-vaccination were a lack of information or a lack of anticipation before departure. After distributing the questionnaire, 101 prescriptions were issued at the parents' request.

Conclusion: The vaccination recommendations against hepatitis A are not followed in our population of travelling children, with only 10 % of them vaccinated, while 50 % have been travelling to a high-risk country. The reasons for non-vaccination may be multifactorial, but this study also highlights the importance of a preventive period to improve the population's knowledge and help them anticipate their travel plans. Although time-consuming, this prevention was profitable since 101 vaccine doses were prescribed out of 477 questionnaires collected. A display could be put up in the waiting room to draw families' attention to the need to anticipate travel.

Keywords: Children; Hepatitis A; Preventive medicine; Travel; Vaccine.