Author:
STEVENSON J.,MURDOCH G.,RILEY A.,DUNCAN B.,McWHIRTER M.,CHRISTIE P.
Abstract
An age shift in rubella infection to young adults has occurred
in Scotland since the
introduction of a first dose measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination
in 1988 and a
second dose measles/rubella (MR) vaccination in 1994/95.
The Health Board was alerted to an
outbreak of rubella at Stirling University by the notification of 6 cases
amongst male students
aged 18–28 years with dates of onset between 3 March and 21 March
1996. In response, a MR
vaccination campaign was conducted to enhance population immunity to rubella
within the
university population and to reduce the likelihood of further cases. A
total of 1795 students,
staff and visitors were vaccinated. Vaccine coverage of 46% was estimated
to be sufficient to
boost rubella immunity in full time male students in university accommodation
to 88·7–91·0%,
just above the upper critical level of herd immunity for rubella of
85–88%. Students in colleges
and universities in the UK will remain at increased risk of outbreaks of
rubella and measles
until the cohort who have received a two dose schedule of MR form the bulk
of the college
population. It may be prudent for tertiary education colleges and other
institutions in the UK
with young adults living in shared residential accommodation to offer MR
vaccination to new
entrants, targeting those who have not previously received the vaccine,
between now and the
year 2000.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Epidemiology
Cited by
14 articles.
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