Vaccination and screening of medical students: results of a student health initiative.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the immune status and vaccination needs of first-year medical students in relation to bloodborne viruses and common vaccine-preventable diseases.


METHODS
Survey of first-year medical students at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, attending a mandatory screening and vaccination clinic, 2002-2005.


METHODS
Self-reported history of vaccination or natural infection; serological evidence of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (presence of specific IgG) and hepatitis B (presence of hepatitis B virus surface antibodies) or infection with hepatitis B and C viruses and HIV; and Mantoux test results.


RESULTS
733 students attended the clinic (85% of those enrolled). Four students were positive for HBsAg and four had hepatitis C antibodies. None were HIV-positive. Twenty-nine per cent (216/733) were not immune to hepatitis B, 33% (238/724) to mumps, 26% (190/724) to measles, 13% (91/724) to rubella and 10% (75/724) to varicella. About 23% (91/237) needed further testing for tuberculosis. Immunity corresponded poorly with self-reported history of vaccination. More students reported vaccination against rubella (96%), measles (81%) and mumps (80%) than were immune, and fewer reported vaccination against hepatitis B (44%).


CONCLUSIONS
Many students were not immune to vaccine-preventable diseases, and a small number had a previously undiagnosed bloodborne virus infection (hepatitis B or C). The level of immunity to vaccine-preventable infections was unacceptable and justified the provision of an easily accessible program for screening and vaccination.
Torda
Adrienne J
AJ
Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW. a.torda@unsw.edu.au
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology; D006306:Health Surveys; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009109:Mumps virus / Q000276:immunology; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009517:New South Wales; D017955:Poliovirus / Q000276:immunology; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013742:Tetanus / Q000517:prevention & control; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
D000914:Antibodies, Viral