Implementation and evaluation of a measles/rubella vaccination campaign in a campus university in the UK following an outbreak of rubella

An age shift in rubella infection to young adults has occurred in Scotland since the introduction of a first dose measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination in 1988 and a second dose measles/rubella (MR) vaccination in 1994/95. The Health Board was alerted to an outbreak of rubella at Stirling University by the notification of 6 cases amongst male students aged 18-28 years with dates of onset between 3 March and 21 March 1996. In response, a MR vaccination campaign was conducted to enhance population immunity to rubella within the university population and to reduce the likelihood of further cases. A total of 1795 students, staff and visitors were vaccinated. Vaccine coverage of 46% was estimated to be sufficient to boost rubella immunity in full time male students in university accommodation to 88.7-91.0%, just above the upper critical level of herd immunity for rubella of 85-88%. Students in colleges and universities in the UK will remain at increased risk of outbreaks of rubella and measles until the cohort who have received a two dose schedule of MR form the bulk of the college population. It may be prudent for tertiary education colleges and other institutions in the UK with young adults living in shared residential accommodation to offer MR vaccination to new entrants, targeting those who have not previously received the vaccine, between now and the year 2000.

A dispersed alarm system for the elderly and its relevance to local general practitioners

This paper describes the use of a dispersed alarm system for the elderly in the Central region of Scotland. Information from referral forms, questionnaires completed by wardens after a call and client registers were used to investigate the population served, sources of referral and the way the service was used. All the general practitioners working in the area covered by the service were sent a questionnaire asking for their views of the service. In May 1984 the alarm system covered 861 clients in private housing and 1259 in sheltered housing. Over 50% of referrals were from the health services and the most common reasons for referral were poor mobility and falls. False alarms accounted for 40% of calls and they were more likely to be from clients in sheltered housing than in private housing. Of genuine calls 71% were due to illness or disability with 25% due to falls. All of the general practitioners responding to the questionnaire were aware of a patient in their practice covered by the service and considered that the service provided useful 24-hour support for the elderly at risk because of frailty and disability