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EDITORIALS: Peter McIntyre and Julie Leask Improving uptake of MMR vaccine BMJ 2008; 336: 729-730 [Full text]

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Is the message getting through?

Jenny Addley   (8 April 2008)

Is the message getting through? 8 April 2008
Jenny Addley, Gastroenterology Registrar Belfast City Hospital Send response to journal: Re: Is the message getting through?	Reports of an association between vaccines and adverse outcomes gets a great deal of attention and it often becomes difficult to determine whether the public is receiving appropriate information to make an informed decision. This applies not only to MMR but to any new vaccine being introduced. A vaccination programme against Meningitis C was introduced in 20001 on a phased basis in Ireland and we carried out a study of 100 children selected at random under age five in National Children’s |Hospital, Dublin to assess prevalence of vaccine uptake, parental attitudes towards the vaccine and to compare uptake in different socio-economic groups2. We found six out of ten children had been vaccinated, with the main source of information coming from the media in 49% and GP in 39%. . In those not vaccinating their children, the primary concern was development of meningtitis as a consequence of the vaccine. 88% of those not being vaccinated had received all their other appropriate childhood vaccines. Children of parents not holding medical cards and hence assuming higher socio-economic standing, were more likely to be vaccinated than those holding a card ( Odds ratio 2.4, 95% CI 1.02-5.41 p<0.05). This correlates with the findings of Pearce et al who showed those seeking vaccination were more likely to be white and well educated3. I feel there is a constant need for efforts to be directed at improving awareness and reassuring the public about the safety profile of a vaccine and these messages must take into consideration the population which is being targeted with an awareness of the presence of health inequality often being seen in lower socio-economic classes. 1. Fitzgerald M, O’Flanagan D. Report by the National Disease Surveiilance Centre, Enhanced surveillance of bacterial meningtitis including meningococcal septicaemia in the republic of Ireland, May 2000. 2.Addley J, Meningitis C vaccination uptake: a study of prevalence in children of medical card and non medical card holders.Trinity Student Medical Journal 2001; 2. 3. Pearce A, Law C, Elliman D, Cole TJ, Bedford H. Factors associated with uptake of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine ( MMR) and use of single antigen vaccines in a contemporary UK cohort: A prospective cohort study. BMJ 2008 doi:10.1136/bmj.39489.590671.25. Competing interests: None declared