Hepatitis B virus vaccination of medical students: a call for rigorous standards

At, McRae; Jl, Stephens

doi:10.1001/jama.274.13.1081

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…The processes required for screening and vaccination of students are not always well established 12 , 13 . It is difficult to enforce compliance, and our study found that 15% of medical students were still non‐compliant.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Vaccination and screening of medical students: results of a student health initiative

Torda

2008

Medical Journal of Australia

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Objective: To evaluate the immune status and vaccination needs of first‐year medical students in relation to bloodborne viruses and common vaccine‐preventable diseases. Design, setting and participants: Survey of first‐year medical students at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, attending a mandatory screening and vaccination clinic, 2002–2005. Main outcome measures: Self‐reported history of vaccination or natural infection; serological evidence of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (presence of specific IgG) and hepatitis B (presence of hepatitis B virus surface antibodies) or infection with hepatitis B and C viruses and HIV; and Mantoux test results. Results: 733 students attended the clinic (85% of those enrolled). Four students were positive for HBsAg and four had hepatitis C antibodies. None were HIV‐positive. Twenty‐nine per cent (216/733) were not immune to hepatitis B, 33% (238/724) to mumps, 26% (190/724) to measles, 13% (91/724) to rubella and 10% (75/724) to varicella. About 23% (91/237) needed further testing for tuberculosis. Immunity corresponded poorly with self‐reported history of vaccination. More students reported vaccination against rubella (96%), measles (81%) and mumps (80%) than were immune, and fewer reported vaccination against hepatitis B (44%). Conclusions: Many students were not immune to vaccine‐preventable diseases, and a small number had a previously undiagnosed bloodborne virus infection (hepatitis B or C). The level of immunity to vaccine‐preventable infections was unacceptable and justified the provision of an easily accessible program for screening and vaccination.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%