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Serological assessment of measles–rubella vaccination catch‐up campaign among university students
Author(s) -
Takeuchi Jiro,
Goto Masashi,
Kawamura Takashi,
Hiraide Atsushi
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/ped.12285
Subject(s) - measles , rubella , medicine , vaccination , serology , age groups , immunology , pediatrics , antibody , demography , sociology
Abstract Background In J apan, 5000–300 000 persons contracted measles every year until 2001. The measles/rubella‐combined ( MR ) vaccination at age 17–18 years (phase 4 MR vaccination: MR‐IV ) was launched in 2008 in J apan as a measles–rubella catch‐up campaign. A serological assessment of this campaign has not been thoroughly performed. Methods Titers of anti‐measles and anti‐rubella immunoglobulin G antibodies, and past medical history including measles and rubella vaccination and infection were obtained from first‐year university students in 2008 and 2009, and the immune status against measles and rubella was compared between students at the target MR‐IV age (the target age group) and those 1 year older than the target age (non‐target age group). Results A total of 186 students were in the target age group and 146 were in the non‐target age group. The proportion of students with a history of measles and rubella infection was not significantly different between the two groups (8.8% vs. 6.3%, P = 0.41 and 11.0% vs. 9.9%, P = 0.75, respectively). A history of two or more measles and rubella vaccinations was significantly more frequent in the target age group (85.2% and 54.9%, respectively) than in the non‐target age group (20.8% and 13.2%, respectively; both P < 0.001). Prevalence of seropositivity for measles and for rubella was also higher in the target age group (98.9% and 97.8%, respectively) than in the non‐target age group (91.0% and 87.5%, respectively; both P < 0.001). Conclusions The MR‐IV catch‐up campaign helped achieve herd immunity and will contribute to the elimination of measles and rubella.