[Does a modified vaccination schedule protect better against measles?].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the value of an alternative vaccination programme (VP) with Mumps-Measles-Rubella (MMR) vaccine at the ages of 12 and 15 months compared with the standard VP (MMR at the ages of 14-15 months and 9 years).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

The area of activity of the 'Lek and Merwede' Extramural Health Care Department.

METHOD

Data from general practitioners (GPs) and from an inquiry among parents of 873 children born in a 1.5 year period (randomly taken among 4500 children) and given the alternative MMR VP, were used. The inquiry took place during a measles epidemic in 1993. A non-response study was also executed among the parents.

RESULTS

The response of the GPs was low (14 cases reported by 8 out of 90 GPs). Eighty-two per cent of the parents responded. There was no correlation between (non-)response and the alternative VP. The vaccination was effective and no significant differences between standard and alternative VP were found.

CONCLUSION

Vaccination protects against measles. An alternative VP could theoretically be more effective, but because of the excellent results of the standard VP differences could not be detected.