Vaccine efficacy in a measles immunisation programme.
During a measles outbreak in Northern Ireland (between October 1988 and March 1989) it was noted that a proportion of cases had occurred in children who had previously been vaccinated against measles. A study was, therefore, set up to provide a rapid estimate of vaccine efficacy. Vaccine efficacy was calculated to be 94% (95% confidence limits, 91% to 96%). Investigation of the computerised records at 31 December 1991 revealed that 94% of children in the study cohort had received measles vaccine. As vaccination coverage increases, a higher proportion of cases of measles will, inevitably, have a history of vaccination.
Tohani
V K
VK
Department of Public Health Medicine, Western Health and Social Services Board, Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
Kennedy
F D
FD
D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009660:Northern Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data