HSE Mumps Campaign summer 2009 update

The Health Service Executive offered MMR vaccination to more than 120,000 Transition, 5th and 6th Year students in second level schools nationwide since Easter. More than 85,000 students received the vaccine. This measure was taken in response to huge increase in cases of mumps in older teenagers and young adults across Ireland.

In the past year Ireland has experienced a national outbreak of mumps with over 3,400 cases in 2009 and 1,377 in 2008. This outbreak has been predominantly among young adults, with the peak incidence in the 18 to 25 age group. Many young adults aged 18-25 years have not received two doses of mumps (MMR) vaccine and thus third level colleges have large numbers of susceptible individuals facilitating ongoing transmission of mumps infection.

Over the summer the HSE will hold special MMR clinics for any of these second level students who missed vaccination on the day that the HSE vaccination team was in their school. For further information about dates and location of clinics in their area students should contact the HSE Information Line 1850 24 1850.

Vaccinations will continue in September for second level students where their school was not scheduled for vaccinations before the summer (i.e. these students will be in 5^th and 6^th year). Current 6th year students who attended these schools should contact the HSE Information Line 1850 24 1850 for information about getting MMR vaccine.

The HSE also advises that students in Gaeltacht colleges and other summer courses or camps (language or other) make sure their MMR vaccinations are up-to-date. You need two doses of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) to be properly immunised.

The HSE continues to recommend that third level students ensure they have received the recommended 2 doses of MMR vaccine.

More information is available from www.mumps.ie or the HSE infoline 1850 24 1850.

You can also visit http://www.ndsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/VaccinePreventable/Mumps/