| Sub-title | |
| Authors | Mark Muscat MD, MSc (Public Health) Maria Sciberras SN |
| Abstract | The measles vaccine was first made available in Malta in 1982, and as the combined MMR vaccine in 1987. It was initially incorporated in the National Childhood Immunization Schedule in 1982, and continued as MMR immunization from 1990 onwards. The local Advisory Committee for Immunization Policy currently recommends the first dose of MMR vaccine to be given at 15 months and the second dose at 5-7 years of age. Measles vaccination coverage for the first dose of MMR for children born in 2001 has reached 90%. In a recently started school catch-up MMR vaccination campaign for the second dose, 29% of children in their fifth year of school (aged 10 and 11 years) were vaccinated. Although measles vaccination may be under-reported, it is believed that the vaccination coverage for the first measles dose is still under the 95% required for successful measles control. Measles is a notifiable disease and medical practitioners are obliged to report all cases of measles to the Disease Surveillance Unit of the Department of Public Health. The Unit sends casebased reports of all notifed measles on a monthly basis to the European surveillance network EUVAC.NET. Following the introduction of the measles vaccine in Malta, there has been a marked reduction in the number of reported measles cases. In 2002, there were seven reported measles cases: three were in the 5-9 year age group, another three in the 1-4 year age group and one case was aged less than 1 year. None of the cases were however, laboratory confirmed. No complications from measles infection were reported. |
Published in: | |
| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 15 Issue 02 |
| Pages | 36 - 38 |
| Date | 01/11/2003 |
| Link to journal | |
| Key words | measles, MMR vaccine, national childhood immunization schedule |