In Europe, including France, a measles outbreak has been ongoing since 2008. Unprotected healthcare workers (HCWs) may contract and spread the infection to patients.
The objective of this study was to evaluate HCWs' measles immunity and vaccine acceptance in our setting.
In a survey-based study conducted in three university hospitals in Paris, 351 HCWs were included between April and June 2011. The following data were collected at enrolment: age, hospital unit, occupation, history of measles infection and vaccination, previous measles serology and acceptance of a measles vaccination in case of seronegativity. Sera were tested for the presence of specific anti-measles IgG antibodies using the CAPTIA(®) measles enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
The mean age of the participating HCWs was 36 years (range: 18-67) and 278 (79.2%) were female. In all, 104 four persons (29.6%) declared a history of measles, and 90 (25.6%) declared never having received a measles vaccination. Among the 351 HCWs included in the study, 322 (91.7%) were immunized against measles (IgG >90 mIU/mL). The risk factors for not being protected were age [18-29 years, adjusted odds ratio: 2.7 (95% confidence interval: 1.1-6.9) compared with ≥30 years], no history of measles infection or vaccination. The global acceptance rate for a measles vaccination, before knowing their results, was 78.6%.
In this cohort of HCWs, 8.3% were susceptible to measles; the group most represented were aged <30 years. Acceptance of the measles vaccine was high. A vaccination campaign in healthcare settings should target specifically healthcare students and junior HCWs.