The measles/rubella immunisation campaign in Scotland. 1996

R Skinner, and P Christie, and J M Cowden
Scottish Office Department of Health, Edinburgh.

This report describes why the 1994 measles/rubella immunisation campaign was necessary, reviews its implementation, and provides information on its impact in Scotland where 60,504 children were immunised. Data on suspected adverse reactions to the measles/rubella vaccine are also presented. A large UK measles epidemic was predicted by independent researchers, and action in response was planned in accordance with the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. As a result, the epidemic predicted for England and Wales was averted and the epidemic which had occurred in the West of Scotland was prevented from spreading to the East. Laboratory-confirmed cases of measles and rubella are now rare in all parts of the UK, especially in the age group targeted by the campaign. Most reported adverse reactions were mild and self-limiting: only one child per 6,700 vaccinated in the UK was reported to have suffered any adverse reaction. Immediate, serious reactions were either allergic or were described as convulsions (most associated with immediate syncope); all of these children recovered fully. Later onset neurological problems were reported at rates no higher than expected from normal population incidence.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D008457 Measles A highly contagious infectious disease caused by MORBILLIVIRUS, common among children but also seen in the nonimmune of any age, in which the virus enters the respiratory tract via droplet nuclei and multiplies in the epithelial cells, spreading throughout the MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTE SYSTEM. Rubeola
D008458 Measles Vaccine A live attenuated virus vaccine of chick embryo origin, used for routine immunization of children and for immunization of adolescents and adults who have not had measles or been immunized with live measles vaccine and have no serum antibodies against measles. Children are usually immunized with measles-mumps-rubella combination vaccine. (From Dorland, 28th ed) Vaccine, Measles
D009108 Mumps Vaccine Vaccines used to prevent infection by MUMPS VIRUS. Best known is the live attenuated virus vaccine of chick embryo origin, used for routine immunization of children and for immunization of adolescents and adults who have not had mumps or been immunized with live mumps vaccine. Children are usually immunized with measles-mumps-rubella combination vaccine. Inactivated Mumps Vaccine,Inactivated Mumps Virus Vaccine,Live Attenuated Mumps Vaccine,Live Attenuated Mumps Virus Vaccine,Mumps Vaccine, Inactivated,Mumps Vaccine, Live Attenuated,Mumps Virus Vaccine, Inactivated,Mumps Virus Vaccine, Live Attenuated,Vaccine, Inactivated Mumps,Vaccine, Mumps
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D004196 Disease Outbreaks Sudden increase in the incidence of a disease. The concept includes EPIDEMICS and PANDEMICS. Outbreaks,Infectious Disease Outbreaks,Disease Outbreak,Disease Outbreak, Infectious,Disease Outbreaks, Infectious,Infectious Disease Outbreak,Outbreak, Disease,Outbreak, Infectious Disease,Outbreaks, Disease,Outbreaks, Infectious Disease
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D012409 Rubella An acute infectious disease caused by the RUBELLA VIRUS. The virus enters the respiratory tract via airborne droplet and spreads to the LYMPHATIC SYSTEM. Measles, German,Three Day Measles,German Measles,Measle, Three Day,Measles, Three Day,Rubellas,Three Day Measle

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