UPTAKE OF a new MMR vaccination scheme in second-level schools has been “very high” since the vaccinations began on Friday, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) said yesterday.
The vaccinations are being offered by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in a bid to bring a nationwide mumps outbreak under control. However, the surveillance centre said the impact of the vaccination plan on outbreak figures would not be seen for some time.
The latest provisional figures show that the number of cases notified to the surveillance centre stood at 2,194 at the end of last week, but reports had not been received from all areas so the true figure is undoubtedly higher. This is about 2,000 more cases than reported at the same time last year.
Mumps is a contagious acute viral illness that causes fever, headache and painful, swollen glands. Outbreaks have become more frequent in the 15-24 year-old age group in recent years and concerns have been expressed that it could now interfere with some students’ exams.
Cases are infectious from about six to 10 days after symptoms emerge. Complications are usually mild but mumps can cause meningitis, deafness and inflammation of the testicles, ovaries or pancreas.
HPSC specialist in public health medicine, Dr Suzanne Cotter, said it was early days into the vaccination scheme yet, but there was a very high uptake from students so far. She said there was a natural flux in outbreaks as numbers tended to fall during holiday periods when schools closed and students were dispersed.
Dr Cotter said the vaccination scheme was a long-term plan and “the impact will probably be seen in the next two months”. MMR vaccines are being provided free to all those in Transition, 5th and 6th years.
Vaccination teams from HSE public health departments and local health offices contacted second-level schools across the State early last week to schedule immunisation clinics and the first clinics were held in schools on Friday.
Dr Brenda Corcoran from the HSE’s national immunisation office said the HSE was “pleased with the response from schools so far and hope to provide MMR vaccinations in as many schools as possible in the weeks before the summer break”.
She said that if all schools were not reached before the exam and summer holiday period, they would be followed up in September.
Dr Corcoran said the HSE continued to advise those in third-level institutions to attend student health services for the MMR vaccine.
Recent studies have estimated that two doses of the MMR vaccine are up to 95 per cent effective in preventing mumps, while one dose is just 80 per cent effective.
According to the HSE, many older teenagers did not receive the second MMR dose and that was why this age cohort was particularly affected.
The contagious infection has caused problems for the Leinster rugby team, following Rob Kearney’s contraction of the virus.
The Ireland fullback and wing did not play in Saturday’s Magners League match and doubts hang over his return to health in time for Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Munster. The player has been out of action for a week or so.
More information on mumps is available from www.mumps.ie or from the HSE information line 1850 241850
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