Vaccination--knowledge and attitudes of school children.

Low vaccine up-take in Ireland resulted in the measles epidemic of 2000-2001, and more recent outbreaks of mumps in many schools and colleges. Forty-five schools were selected from a list of secondary schools in Ireland using a table of random numbers, and teachers were requested to distribute self-administered questionnaires to their 4th year students. The questionnaires were analysed using Epi-Info and chi-square test. 86% (n=675) of students considered themselves inadequately informed about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases. 67.9% (n=532) wanted the topic added to the science syllabus. 88.3% (n=692) agreed that they would vaccinate their own children against all childhood diseases. It is recommended that the topic of vaccination be covered more completely by the Junior Certificate Science syllabus. It is concluded that the vaccination up-take rates in the Ireland should rise with the next generation.