title: Social regulations predispose people to complete vaccination for vaccine-preventable diseases.
abstract: Japan experienced measles outbreaks in both 2006 and 2007 mainly among university students. Improvement of vaccine coverage against vaccine-preventable viral infections is the prime task for preventing outbreaks of viral infections. To elucidate the promoting factors for complete vaccination against measles, rubella, mumps, and varicella-zoster viruses, we conducted a case-control study among single university students in Japan. Information on vaccinations and clinico-demographical factors were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and a photocopy of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for two-time vaccination against measles and rubella viruses as mandatory vaccinations and at least one-time vaccination against mumps and varicella-zoster viruses as optional vaccinations. A total of 1,370 (744 medical, 508 paramedical, and 118 pharmaceutical) students were invited to participate, 960 (70.1%) of whom were enrolled in the study. Students aged < 20 years had a greater propensity for measles and rubella vaccinations (OR 7.8 [95% CI, 5.1-11.8] and OR 6.1 [95% CI, 3.7-10.0], respectively) compared with those aged ≥ 20 years. Students with a history of living over-seas for 1 month or longer were more likely to complete vaccination for measles (OR 4.4 [95% CI, 1.4-13.5] compared with those without such history. This significantly high vaccination coverage was attributed to the measles-rubella catch-up campaign by the Japanese government and the immunization regulations by foreign countries. These findings suggest that social regulations would predispose people to complete vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Kyoto University Health Service.
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hiraide
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012409:Rubella / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine