A measles and rubella (MR) catch-up vaccination campaign in an Egyptian University: vaccine uptake and knowledge and attitudes of students.

Introduction: In 2008, following a rubella epidemic, the Egyptian Ministry of Health implemented a Measles Rubella (MR) catch-up campaign, based on WHO recommendations for supplementary immunization activities to eliminate measles by 2010. The age group targeted was 10-20 years. This campaign was unique in Egypt as it was the first national vaccination campaign which included university students.

Aim: To report uptake of MR vaccine and reasons for declining the vaccine among medical and non-medical students in the campaign and to assess the knowledge about the vaccine and the diseases.

Methods: The study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage during the vaccination sessions, medical and other students (N=310) were given a questionnaire to assess their knowledge of the campaign and the vaccine. The second stage (N=341) was carried out when the campaign was completed to assess vaccine uptake among medical students.

Results: Posters displayed inside the university were reported to be the main source of information about the campaign. Students were generally poorly informed about both vaccine adverse effects, and contraindications although medical students tended to be better informed than other students. Overall 64.8% medical students accepted the vaccine with higher uptake among females than males (85.9 and 58.3% respectively). Non-compliant students had a significantly higher mean age. Almost half of students who did not accept the vaccine gave their reason as having little information about the vaccine (43.3%).

Conclusion: The MR campaign in Ain Shams University may have been more successful with better use of health education messages.