In Italy systematic mandatory tetanus immunization of children started in 1968. In a national sample of 241 young males born after 1968 the prevalence of non-immune subjects was 11.2% (5.5% in the North-Centre, 15.9% in the South-Islands; p < 0.02). Comparing these data with the corresponding figure obtained in a previous study of subjects born before 1968 a significant decrease (11.2% versus 32.6%; p < 0.01) is observed. The prevalence of non-immune subjects born after 1968 is significantly (p < 0.01) lower than that observed in subjects born before 1968 by geographical area as well as by area (urban/rural) of residence. These findings indicate that the introduction of compulsory tetanus vaccination for all newborns has favourably affected the immune status of younger Italian men. However, more efforts should still be addressed to decrease regional inequalities in the delivery of health care.
TETANUS IMMUNITY AMONG ITALIANS BORN AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF MANDATORY VACCINATION OF CHILDREN / D'Amelio, Raffaele; Tommaso, Stroffolini; Maria, Wirz; Roberto, Biselli; Paolo Maria, Matricardi; Giuliano, Gentili; Clelia, Collotti; Paolo, Pasquini. - In: VACCINE. - ISSN 0264-410X. - 11:9(1993), pp. 935-936. [10.1016/0264-410x(93)90381-7]
TETANUS IMMUNITY AMONG ITALIANS BORN AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF MANDATORY VACCINATION OF CHILDREN
D'AMELIO, Raffaele;
1993
Abstract
In Italy systematic mandatory tetanus immunization of children started in 1968. In a national sample of 241 young males born after 1968 the prevalence of non-immune subjects was 11.2% (5.5% in the North-Centre, 15.9% in the South-Islands; p < 0.02). Comparing these data with the corresponding figure obtained in a previous study of subjects born before 1968 a significant decrease (11.2% versus 32.6%; p < 0.01) is observed. The prevalence of non-immune subjects born after 1968 is significantly (p < 0.01) lower than that observed in subjects born before 1968 by geographical area as well as by area (urban/rural) of residence. These findings indicate that the introduction of compulsory tetanus vaccination for all newborns has favourably affected the immune status of younger Italian men. However, more efforts should still be addressed to decrease regional inequalities in the delivery of health care.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
