Stance of the Spanish Association of Primary Care Pediatrics (AEPap ) on child vaccination: critical analysis and improvement proposals (January 2016)

Immunization represents one of the most effective and cost-efficient measures in the history of medicine. Spain is one of the countries with a high infant vaccination coverage (over 95% in primary immunization) and the population is mostly in favor of vaccines. They are not only widely accepted, but also families take an active interest in vaccines not included in the official schedule. Frequently, however, certain news from media raise debates that create confusion and compromise the credibility of vaccines. The Spanish Association of Pediatrics for Primary Care (AEPap) believes it is necessary to review the current situation of child vaccination in our country from a welfare perspective, analyzing the following aspects: vaccination coverage, records, training, professional responsibility and information to the population, supply, decision-making, implementation and spreading information and variability of immunization schedule.