The Swiss National Vaccination Coverage Survey, 2005–2007

Abstract

Objectives. We described the results from the Swiss National Vaccination Coverage Survey (SNVCS) 2005–2007, a survey designed to monitor immunization coverage of children and adolescents residing in Switzerland in each canton within a three-year period. Methods. The SNVCS is a cross-sectional survey using a two-stage sampling design targeting children aged 2, 8, and 16 years. Families of selected children were contacted by mail and telephone. Coverage was determined via vaccination cards or vaccination summary forms. Results. A total of 25 out of 26 cantons participated in the survey, with 8,286 respondents for children aged 24–35 months, 10,314 respondents for children aged 8 years, and 9,301 respondents for teenagers aged 16 years. Compared with data from 1999–2003, coverage estimates for toddlers remained unchanged for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines at three doses, but increased five percentage points to 86%–87% for measles-mumps-rubella at one dose and was 71% at two doses. Coverage for measles, mumps, and rubella were 89%–90% at one dose and 75% at two doses for 8-year-olds, and 94% and 76% for the two dosages, respectively, for 16-year-olds. Linguistic region and nationality were highly correlated with being vaccinated against measles for the two younger age groups. Conclusion. Despite the increase in vaccine coverage, measles vaccination is still low, and the World Health Organization goal to eliminate measles by 2010 was not achieved in Switzerland. More efforts are needed by the cantons and the central government to increase vaccination coverage.