The aim of this study was to determe the age-specific rubella seroprevalence and the related factors in Korean children. Subjects of the study were 5,393 students from 8 elementary schools in Gyeonggi Province, Korea. Questionnaire surveys with blood sampling were conducted in 1993, 1996, and 1999. ELISA tests, used to detect rubella specific IgG antibody, were Imx & (Abbott, U.S.A.) in 1993 and 1999, and Enzygnost & (Behring, Germany) in 1996. The age-adjusted rubella susceptibility rate was 22.9% (95% CI: 22.8-23.0%) and it increased with age from 14% to 28%. The susceptibility rates of vaccinees, nonvaccinees, and the unknown group were 21%, 35%, and 27%, respectively (p=0.000). The rates by parental education levels for elementary and below, middle school, high school, and college and over were 37%, 26%, 24%, and 20%, respectively. The geometric mean titers (GMTs) of nonvaccinees, the unknown group, and vaccinees were 47 IU/mL, 42 IU/mL, and 37 IU/mL, respectively (p=0.000). The susceptibility level was too high to prevent the rubella epidemic in Korea, which necessitates a programme that will enhance the coverage for 1st and 2nd MMR vaccination among school children. In particular, more attention should be paid to the vaccination of the children whose parental education level is relatively low.
Age Distribution ; Antibodies, Viral/blood ; Child ; Data Collection ; Female ; Human ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Rubella/*epidemiology/immunology/prevention & control ; Rubella Vaccine ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

OBJECTIVETo analyze the changing of age patterns among rubella patients after implementing rubella vaccine immunization to children in Shandong province since 1995.

METHODSEpidemiologic data on rubella through surveillance system for suspected measles from 1999 to 2004 and data on rubella vaccination were used and analyzed.

RESULTSThe annual average incidence rate of rubella from 1999 to 2004 had been 0.59 per 100 thousands population while 81.17% of cases were concentrated during the outbreaks. 77.77% of the cases were school children between 7-15 years old and 7.93% of the cases were under 7 years old. The age-median of cases were 10.37, 11.66, 11.41, 12.81, 14.28 and 13.96 years old from 1999 to 2004, respectively. The estimated coverage of rubella vaccine for pre-school children was about 60% but only 20% were for school children.

CONCLUSIONThe peak age of cases moved from youth towards adolescence which indicated that women with child-bearing age might have been under risk of developing the congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). It is necessary to carry out screening test of rubella antibody and vaccination to women with child-bearing age and the immunization strategy should be established to guide the control of rubella and CRS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Immunization Schedule ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Rubella ; complications ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Vaccination ; statistics & numerical data ; Viral Vaccines ; immunology ; Young Adult