In response to the ongoing outbreak of mumps in Ireland,1 the national mumps outbreak control team (OCT) decided in April 2009 to carry out an MMR vaccination campaign for 132,000 students in 4th 5th and 6th year in 735 second level schools during the final term of this school year. The decision was based on the fact that efforts to control mumps outbreaks among students in 3rd level college had failed and that students in senior cycle of second level schools were the cohort most susceptible to mumps. This decision was supported by the Health Service Executive (HSE) management team, the Department of Health and Children (DoHC) and the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).
The aim of the mumps campaign was to offer two thirds of the target students a dose of MMR vaccine before the end of term and to complete the campaign in September. The campaign was planned on the basis of 50% uptake of MMR vaccine.
Organisational aspects of the campaign included vaccine procurement, and delivery, development of staff guidelines, staff training, establishment of vaccinating teams, distribution of informational materials and consent forms, development of a dedicated website www.mumps.ie and access to the HSE Information Line 1850 24 1850.
In co-operation with the Department of Education and Science the Health Service Executive (HSE) commenced MMR vaccinations in second level schools on Friday 24th April. School principals and their staff were most helpful in facilitating this campaign at very short notice.
The HSE distributed 111,196 doses of MMR to Local Health Offices (LHO) for use in the campaign. Provisional data up to 22nd May shows that 106,253 students were offered MMR vaccine and 78,118 were vaccinated (73% uptake). The uptake of MMR vaccine to date has been higher than expected. The school based campaign is now finishing as Leaving Cert exams commence first week of June. Students in this cohort who missed vaccination or where vaccination was deferred on the day will be offered an opportunity to receive MMR vaccine at HSE clinics over the summer. Vaccinations will continue in September for students in this campaign where their school was not scheduled for vaccinations before the summer (i.e. these will be the 5th and 6th years in those schools).
For further information students should contact the HSE Information Line 1850 24 1850 or check the website www.mumps.ie
Helena Murray, Brenda Corcoran, National Immunisation Office, on behalf of the Mumps Outbreak Control Team.
References
1. Gee S, Cotter S. Mumps outbreak escalates. Epi Insight 2009 (10) 4: 1& 4.
