Helena C Maltezou1, Heleni Karantoni2, Panagiotis Petrikkos2, Persephoni Georgota3, Panos Katerelos4, Aikaterini Liona4, Stephanos Tsagarakis3, Maria Theodoridou5, Dimitrios Hatzigeorgiou6. 1. Department for Interventions in Health-Care Facilities, Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: helen-maltezou@ath.forthnet.gr. 2. 251 Hellenic Air Force General Hospital, Athens, Greece. 3. Immunology Laboratory, 251 Airforce General Hospital, Athens, Greece. 4. Department for Interventions in Health-Care Facilities, Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece. 5. First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. 6. Medical Directorate, Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Athens, Greece.
Abstract
AIM: Data about susceptibility rates in young adults are scarce. We estimated the complete vaccination rates, timeliness of vaccinations and susceptibility rates among male military recruits in Greece. METHODS: A standardized form was used to collect data. Immunity against measles, rubella, varicella, hepatitis A and hepatitis B was serologically estimated. RESULTS: We studied 385 recruits with a mean age of 23.5 years (range: 18.3-29.9 years). Complete vaccination rates were 94.3% for measles, 100% for rubella, 15% for varicella, 73.9% for hepatitis A and 96.5% for hepatitis B. Only 10.8% of participants were fully vaccinated against all five diseases. Timely vaccination was 47.2% for measles, 89.3% for rubella and 48.1% for hepatitis B. Recruits >23 years had a 1.5-fold increased probability for incomplete vaccinations compared to younger recruits. Laboratory-confirmed immunity rates were 80% against measles, 85.7% against rubella, 85.2% against varicella, 69.4% against hepatitis A and 77.1% against hepatitis B. It is estimated that approximately 388,696 persons aged 18-30 years are susceptible to measles, 277,640 persons to rubella, 287,736 persons to varicella, 595,664 persons to hepatitis A and 444,224 persons to hepatitis B in Greece. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that young adults have significant immunity gaps against measles, rubella, varicella, hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Complete vaccination rates were suboptimal against hepatitis A and varicella. Strategies to access young adults and increase immunity rates through catch-up vaccination services should be investigated. A third dose of MMR vaccine should be considered for young adolescents in Greece.
AIM: Data about susceptibility rates in young adults are scarce. We estimated the complete vaccination rates, timeliness of vaccinations and susceptibility rates among male military recruits in Greece. METHODS: A standardized form was used to collect data. Immunity against measles, rubella, varicella, hepatitis A and hepatitis B was serologically estimated. RESULTS: We studied 385 recruits with a mean age of 23.5 years (range: 18.3-29.9 years). Complete vaccination rates were 94.3% for measles, 100% for rubella, 15% for varicella, 73.9% for hepatitis A and 96.5% for hepatitis B. Only 10.8% of participants were fully vaccinated against all five diseases. Timely vaccination was 47.2% for measles, 89.3% for rubella and 48.1% for hepatitis B. Recruits >23 years had a 1.5-fold increased probability for incomplete vaccinations compared to younger recruits. Laboratory-confirmed immunity rates were 80% against measles, 85.7% against rubella, 85.2% against varicella, 69.4% against hepatitis A and 77.1% against hepatitis B. It is estimated that approximately 388,696 persons aged 18-30 years are susceptible to measles, 277,640 persons to rubella, 287,736 persons to varicella, 595,664 persons to hepatitis A and 444,224 persons to hepatitis B in Greece. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that young adults have significant immunity gaps against measles, rubella, varicella, hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Complete vaccination rates were suboptimal against hepatitis A and varicella. Strategies to access young adults and increase immunity rates through catch-up vaccination services should be investigated. A third dose of MMR vaccine should be considered for young adolescents in Greece.
Authors: A Kanellopoulou; I Giannakopoulos; S Fouzas; E Papachatzi; S Nasikas; A Papakonstantinopoulou; G Dimitriou; D Gkentzi Journal: Hum Vaccin Immunother Date: 2021-09-02 Impact factor: 4.526
Authors: Helena C Maltezou; Christos Rahiotis; Maria Tseroni; Phoebus Madianos; Ioannis Tzoutzas Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-01 Impact factor: 3.390