Keywords Adolescent.Immunization.Vaccinecoverage.CampaignAbbreviationsBCG Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccineOPV oral poliomyelitis vaccineDTP diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccineMMR measles, mumps, rubella vaccinedT reduced diphtheria component and tetanus vaccineDear editor,We read the interesting article by Heininger et al. [1] on thecompliance with recommended immunizations for adoles-cents in Germany. Like them, we have also evaluatedimmunization status in adolescents at our AdolescentOutpatient Clinic at the Federal University of Sao Paulo,in Sao Paulo, Brazil.When the adolescents had their primary vaccinationschedule, recommendations for standard immunizations inBrazil comprised of: one dose of BCG, one measlesvaccine at 9 months, three OPV and three DTP, with onebooster of each six months after the final dose; subsequentdT boosters were given every ten years. Sao Paulo StateImmunization Program also recommended a second OPVand DTP booster at pre-school age. After 1992, MMRwas added at 15 months. Since 1990, National Immuni-zation Campaigns against poliomyelitis, twice yearly, havebeen used as a record control to update the immunizationof children who had missed routine vaccine doses againstother diseases.From May to October 2001, 253 adolescents aged 10 to20 years were assessed and of these 208 (82.2%) hadimmunization records. All had been vaccinated againsttuberculosis, poliomyelitis, measles and basic doses ofdiphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Interestingly, at massimmunization campaigns, 38% of these records wereupdated, with 132 vaccine doses administered.According to the Sao Paulo State Immunization Pro-gram, 24.5% of vaccination cards had missing vaccinedoses. Non-updated records were especially due to lack ofdT booster.Amongst the adolescents who had immunizationrecords, we observed good vaccination coverage in child-hood. However, like Heininger et al. and others [1–3],vaccination coverage decreased in adolescence. Masscampaigns greatly contributed to the updating of missedvaccine doses in childhood, highlighting an extra benefit ofpolio campaigns in Brazil.References