here your doctor

Approximately 30% of general practitioners and pediatricians are not convinced of the absence of adverse effects of hepatitis B vaccine in infants, according to a survey by the National Institute for Prevention and Health Education (INPE) .

This survey, as well as two other conducted among health professionals and the general population, was presented by the National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS) and more particularly by coordinated action AC 25 on the theme of "public health research on viral hepatitis."

On the perception of pediatric vaccines, and therefore not only the perception of anti-HBV vaccine, it was conducted in March 2005 by INPE with general practitioners and pediatricians, said Marta Balinska, coordinator of the program " infectious diseases "in the conduct of scientific affairs INPE.

It showed that "perceptions of usefulness and safety of a vaccine are correlated", pediatric vaccines perceived as less useful and less safe as hepatitis B and BCG vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine.

About hepatitis B vaccine, was asked doctors if they were satisfied or not the absence of adverse effects in infants as a result of favorable conclusions vaccine that emerged from the consensus meeting in September 2003 and the public hearing in November 2004.

About 30% reported not convinced. The reasons given by physicians in 78% of the late onset of certain side effects, 53% in the manipulation of data by the pharmaceutical industry and 46% in the absence of trust in health authorities.

In general, 30% of physicians say they do not adhere to recommendations, because in 59% of cases, infants are not at risk, because they expect a clearer stance on the part of authorities in 58% cases and because parents are afraid in 40%.

PROFILE OF PHYSICIANS ADVERSE TO VACCINATION

The profile of adverse physicians to hepatitis B vaccination is a man rather than a woman, a general practitioner rather than a pediatrician (as with other vaccines), practicing in the areas of the Southwest and Northwest in France than elsewhere (practice in the Northwest also emerging for other vaccines).

Marta Balinska also presented the results of the periodic health barometer GPs / pharmacists conducted by INPE in 2003.

It highlights, for vaccination in general and for doctors, a proportion roughly stable "favorable" attitudes, that is to say "very or somewhat favorable," but down attitude " very favorable "to 10 points since 1994 (especially between 1994 and 1998, with a stability below).

Specific to the hepatitis B vaccine, there is an increase in medical opinions "favorable" to the vaccination of infants and down these opinions for all other age groups in the population.

Thus, these "favorable" to the hepatitis B vaccination of infants opinions concerning 58.8% of doctors in 2003, against 51.7% in 1994 and 51.2% in 1998. Opinions are "somewhat or very unfavorable" in 30.4% of physicians in 2003 for the vaccination for entry into sixth, against 8.6% in 1994 and 19.8% in 1998 from 19.7% of physicians in 2003 for immunization of adolescents, against 6.2% in 1994 and 9.1% in 1998, and in 35.4% of physicians in 2003 to vaccinate the entire population against 15.1% in 1994 and 26% in 1998.

Favorable doctors to HBV vaccination for profile no particular mode of exercise such as homeopathy, the status of referring physician and participation in a professional network.