MMR vaccination, measles epidemiology and sero-surveillance in the Republic of Ireland.
OBJECTIVE
Following the introduction of a national measles and subsequent MMR vaccination programme, to determine the susceptibility of 3-14-year-old children to measles, mumps and rubella and to relate the results to the epidemiology of measles and the need for vaccination policy changes.


METHODS
Cross-sectional sero-survey and trends in measles notifications and mortality.


METHODS
Paediatric hospital outpatient departments in Dublin.


METHODS
Sera were collected from 837 children attending the clinics in 1991 and 1992.


RESULTS
The prevalence of antibodies in children aged 3-6, 7-10 and 11-14 years was 84, 83 and 95% for measles; 48, 60 and 65% for mumps; and 78, 63 and 74% for rubella, respectively. The prevalence of mumps antibodies may be underestimated. Ninety-six per cent of girls aged 13-14 years had rubella antibodies. A widespread outbreak of measles occurred in 1993. Over recent years, an increasing proportion of measles notifications were in older children.


CONCLUSIONS
Given sub-optimal uptake of MMR vaccine, outbreaks of infection in pre- and primary school children are inevitable. In such circumstances, a 2-shot MMR vaccine programme with high uptake is essential to prevent a shift of disease into older age groups.
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D009107:Mumps / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009108:Mumps Vaccine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012409:Rubella / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014611:Vaccination; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D009108:Mumps Vaccine; D012411:Rubella Vaccine; D017778:Vaccines, Combined