[Vaccination schedule, present and future].

Abstract

The french calendar of vaccinations is devised by the General Directorate of Health (Technical Committee of Vaccinations, High Council of Hygiene) and is regularly updated. The 1990 calendar has recently been published. Primary combined immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis and pertussis has been brought forward from 3 to 2 months for better prevention of pertussis in young infants. BCG remains mandatory and can be administered in the first days of life without any risk of failure. Immunization against measles, mumps and rubella is performed between the ages of 12 and 15 months and has recently been the object of a national promotional program. The timetable must be respected to reach the national and international objectives which are to maintain a high degree of vaccinal cover in order to eradicate viral diseases with human reservoir, i.e. poliomyelitis, rubella, measles and mumps. In the near future, the calendar will be improved by the advent of a vaccine against Haemophilus B and, perhaps, an acellular pertussis vaccine. As it is possible to leave long intervals between the various vaccinations and vaccinal associations, this calendar can easily be applied to infants and catching up is facilitated.