Immunization on the French Armed Forces: Impact, organization, limits and perspectives

• Published in: Infectious diseases now (Online) Vol. 51; no. 7; pp. 583 - 589
• Main Authors: Mura, M., Haus-Cheymol, R., Tournier, J.-N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Masson SAS 01.10.2021
• Subjects: Immunization schedule; Risks of infection; Vaccination; Risks of infection; Vaccination; Immunization schedule
• ISSN: 2666-9919; 2666-9919
• DOI: 10.1016/j.idnow.2020.11.005

•Vaccination is intrinsically linked with the history of the collective armed forces.•The armed forces are the number one consumer of vaccines in France with some 400,000 doses administered every year.•The forces have their own immunization schedule to fit their specific needs.•They constitute a population which, like the general public, is faced with the limited efficacy of some vaccines (intrinsic efficacy, antigenic diversity and immunological memory).•The armed forces’ healthcare division is constantly researching ways to improve the vaccines and their immunization schedule. Vaccination plays a key role in the prevention of the infectious diseases, which the armed forces are exposed to during overseas deployments. Historically, the French military health service have always contributed greatly to progress in vaccination. The military immunization schedule has often been used as a model for the national schedule. It is a powerful tool, which is constantly evolving to take into account the risks of infection inherent in deployment and to include new scientific data, while still remaining aware of the limitations of vaccination from an individual and collective standpoint. In the current context of increasingly fast emergence or re-emergence of pathogens with a high epidemic potential, developing preventive medical measures is more necessary than ever before, and the French military health service is actively participating.