Papillomavirus vaccination in France according to 2008 to 2012 Vaccinoscopie® data

Effect of Internet use for searching information on vaccination on the uptake of human papillomavirus vaccine in France: A path-analysis approach

Internet is a popular source of information regarding vaccination. This study aimed to determine whether there is a negative association between Internet use among French vaccine-hesitant mothers and HPV vaccine uptake by their daughters, and to gain insight into the pathways that would link Internet use to the lack of HPV vaccine uptake. We conducted a pooled cross-sectional analysis across the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Vaccinoscopie® Survey. Multivariate logistic regression and path models were used in the analysis. The study sample included a total of 2038 respondent mothers. Of those, 89 (4.4%) declared having never been in the situation of searching for information regarding a vaccination they had hesitated about, leaving 1949 mothers for the present analysis. Approximately 24% (466/1949) of the mothers declared using the Internet as a source of vaccine information. In multivariate logistic regression adjusted for physician recommendation of HPV vaccination, attitudes towards vaccines in general, perception of HPV vaccine usefulness, maternal level of education, region of residence, and the survey year, the use of Internet by the mothers was significantly associated with a lower HPV vaccination among their daughters (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.66; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.47-0.91). Path analysis further confirmed the negative effect of Internet use (β = -0.10, standard error (SE) = 0.02, P < 0.0001), highlighting how the Internet plays a detrimental role in HPV vaccine uptake through a lower perceived level of HPV vaccine usefulness, a lower perceived level of information on childhood vaccination, and unfavorable attitudes towards vaccination in general.

Assessment of vaccination coverage of adolescents aged 16-18 years with an innovative electronic immunization record system

OBJECTIVES

To measure vaccine coverage among adolescents aged 16-18 years who participated in the National Defense Preparation Day in the Aquitaine region using the free electronic immunization record.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We considered adolescents aged 16-18 years who participated in the National Defense Preparation Day in the Aquitaine region from April to October 2013. All participants received a letter explaining how to create an electronic immunization record. Those records were then validated by checking data against the copies of the vaccination cards brought by participants on the day they attended. Vaccination coverage was estimated for eight vaccinations according to the cumulative number of doses registered and vaccines recommended during childhood.

RESULTS

Among the 18,714 participants, 9636 agreed to create an electronic immunization record of which 2781 were validated. Vaccination coverage was˃90% for tuberculosis, diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis, measles-mumps-rubella, and Haemophilus influenzae type B, and˂90% for pertussis, hepatitis B, meningococcal C disease, and human papillomavirus. These coverage rates were close to those reported in other available sources.

CONCLUSION

Our study calls attention to the insufficient vaccination of adolescents for pertussis, HBV, meningococcal C disease, and HPV. The absence of a system that routinely provides the vaccination status of this population is a major public health issue in France. The use of an electronic immunization record was innovative, but this tool is not extensively used in the general population and has been evaluated by Santé publique France (the French national public health agency).

Targeted immunotherapy of high-grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia: Expectations from clinical trials

Targeted immunotherapy of high-grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) has been developed as an alternative to conization, to preserve future reproductive outcomes and avoid human papillomavirus (HPV) persistence. The objectives of the review are to present drugs according to their process of development and to examine their potential future use. A search for key words associated with CIN and targeted immunotherapy was carried out in the Cochrane library, Pubmed, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov from 1990 to 2016. Publications (randomized, prospective and retrospective studies) in any language were eligible for inclusion, as well as ongoing trials registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov website. Targeted immunotherapy includes peptide/protein-based vaccines, nucleic acid-based vaccines (DNA), and live vector-based vaccines (bacterial or viral). A total of 18 vaccines were identified for treatment of CIN at various stages of development, and the majority were well-tolerated. Adverse effects were primarily injection site reactions and flu-like symptoms under grade 2. The efficacy of vaccines defined by regression of CIN2/3 to no CIN or CIN1 ranged from 17 to 59% following a minimum of a 12-week follow-up. In the majority of studies, there was no association demonstrated between histological response and HPV clearance, or between histological or virological response and immune T cell response. Given that the spontaneous regression of CIN2/3 is 20-25% at 6 months, targeted immunotherapy occurs an additional value, which never reaches 50%, with one trial an exception to this. However, research and development on HPV eradication drugs needs to be encouraged, due to HPV-associated disease burden.

The impact of the web and social networks on vaccination. New challenges and opportunities offered to fight against vaccine hesitancy

OBJECTIVE

Vaccine hesitancy is a growing and threatening trend, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks and potentially defeating health authorities' strategies. We aimed to describe the significant role of social networks and the Internet on vaccine hesitancy, and more generally on vaccine attitudes and behaviors.

METHODS

Presentation and discussion of lessons learnt from: (i) the monitoring and analysis of web and social network contents on vaccination; (ii) the tracking of Google search terms used by web users; (iii) the analysis of Google search suggestions related to vaccination; (iv) results from the Vaccinoscopie(©) study, online annual surveys of representative samples of 6500 to 10,000 French mothers, monitoring vaccine behaviors and attitude of French parents as well as vaccination coverage of their children, since 2008; and (v) various studies published in the scientific literature.

RESULTS

Social networks and the web play a major role in disseminating information about vaccination. They have modified the vaccination decision-making process and, more generally, the doctor/patient relationship. The Internet may fuel controversial issues related to vaccination and durably impact public opinion, but it may also provide new tools to fight against vaccine hesitancy.

CONCLUSION

Vaccine hesitancy should be fought on the Internet battlefield, and for this purpose, communication strategies should take into account new threats and opportunities offered by the web and social networks.