Vaccination coverage tells the proportion of individuals which have received the vaccine in question. Furthermore, in addition to vaccinated individuals it also illustrates the indirectly obtained protection among the unvaccinated. This protection is acquired by the herd immunity, as un-vaccinated will not receive the microbe among the very well vaccinated population. In case vaccination coverage declines there is a danger of breaking the herd immunity. For both of these groups, directly and indirectly protected, it is important to know the coverage and possible changes in it. Vaccination coverage has traditionally been high in Finland.
Vaccination coverage is studied in Finland every second year by a random sample of 1000 newborns, followed for their vaccinations scheduled to be given during the 2 first years. The first of these studies considered children born 1995 and the last completed study those born 2007.
Children were considered fully vaccinated if they had received all 10 doses recommended: 3 DTP, 3 Hib, 3 polio, and 1 MMR. Vaccination coverage estimates with 95% CI were calculated for overall immunisation, for specific vaccination series and for each specific dose. The cases with missed doses as well as the reasons for missing doses were analysed.
The proportion of children having received all 10 doses was 96,1% (95% CI (94,9 - 97,3). Furthermore, majority of children incompletely vaccinated lack only 1-2 doses. Only 1-4 of 1000 children didn’t received vaccinations at all. Immunization coverage is high in Finland indicating parental confidence in vaccines and baby welfare clinics where vaccinations of little children are given.
Vaccination coverage among children born 2007. Children were considered fully vaccinated if they had received all 10 doses recommended in Finland or if their foreign programme was continued in Finland as recommended.
|
Vaccination
|
Coverage (%)
|
95 % confidence interval
|
| DTP | 98,9 | ( 98,3 - 99,5) |
| Hib | 98,6 | ( 97,9 - 99,3) |
| MMR | 96,6 | ( 95,5 - 97,7) |
| Polio* | 98,9 | ( 98,3 - 99,5) |
| All
|
96,1 | ( 94,9 - 97,3) |
Picture:
Vaccination coverage in Finland