Abstract
Healthcare workers are a population exposed to several infectious diseases, and an immunization programme is essential for the maintenance of good vaccination coverage to protect workers and patients. A population of 10,653 students attending degree courses at Padua Medical School (medicine and surgery, dentistry and health professions) was screened for vaccination coverage and antibody titres against rubella, mumps, and measles. The students were subdivided into five age classes according to their date of birth: those born before 1980, between 1980 and 1985, between 1986 and 1990, between 1991 and 1995, and after 1995. Vaccination coverage was very low in students born before 1980, but the rate of positive antibody titre was high due to infection in infancy. Increasing date of birth showed increased vaccination coverage. In contrast, immune coverage was high for rubella (more than 90%) but not for mumps and measles (approximately 80%). An “anomaly” was observed for mumps and measles in the cohort born between 1991 and 1995, probably due to the trivalent vaccine formulation. Students born after 1990 showed vaccination coverage that exceeded 90%. It is therefore very likely that we will have a future generation of healthcare workers with optimal vaccination coverage.
Highlights
Healthcare workers (HCWs) constitute a population potentially exposed to transmittable infectious disease because of their work
Among the seven suggested vaccines are those against rubella (Ru), mumps (Mu) and measles (Me), usually combined as a trivalent vaccine (MMR), introduced in Italy in 1999 and approved by the National Plan for the Eradication of Measles and Congenital Rubella
Overall (Figure 1, panel D), more than 90% of the cohorts born after 1990 had at least one dose of MMR vaccine, and most had two doses; if they were born after 1995, the vaccination coverage exceeded 95% and reached 90% with two doses
Summary
Healthcare workers (HCWs) constitute a population potentially exposed to transmittable infectious disease because of their work. Owing to this potential exposure, the Italian “National Vaccination. Prevention Plan” 2017–2019 strongly suggests that healthcare workers (HCWs) be vaccinated against seven transmittable diseases. There are no mandatory vaccinations for HCWs in Italy. Among the seven suggested vaccines are those against rubella (Ru), mumps (Mu) and measles (Me), usually combined as a trivalent vaccine (MMR), introduced in Italy in 1999 12) and approved by the National Plan for the Eradication of Measles and Congenital Rubella Probably due to, on the one hand, a “loss of confidence” with the disease and, on the other hand, the growth of the no-vax movements, the trend in vaccine coverage
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
