title: [Measles in 2010. Knowledge and vaccination status of medical students].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In 2002, the WHO Regional Office for Europe developed a strategic plan for measles in the WHO European Region. WHO recommends that at least 95% of children receive two doses of measles vaccine. This plan targeted the elimination of measles for the year 2010 and is supported by the Federal Republic of Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire survey, serological tests and check-up of the certificates of vaccination were offered to second year medical students of Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 62.3% of medical students had received two doses of measles vaccine. Serological data showed that 23.1% were not immune against measles. Important gaps of knowledge were identified in the knowledge test of the survey; less than one third of the students (n=95/324) were able to answer more than 50% of the questions correctly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The suboptimum measles-vaccination coverage shows that the goal of eliminating measles will not be met across Europe by the target year 2010. Both occupational and public health measures need to make sure that vaccination programs should achieve a minimum of 95% coverage with two doses. In addition, the obligation to notify the authorities even of suspected cases serve the same purpose and measures to improve the knowledge of medical students are required. Consequent surveillance systems are necessary to investigate chains of measles infections. Healthcare workers play a decisive role in this issue.
authors.affiliation: Betriebsärztlicher Dienst, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Sabine.Wicker@kgu.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wicker
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Rabenau
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pfeilschifter
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gottschalk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine