A middle school immunization law rapidly and substantially increases immunization coverage among adolescents.

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed the effectiveness of a middle school vaccination requirement for raising second-dose measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine coverage among adolescents.

METHODS

Random-digit-dialed telephone surveys were conducted before (1998) and after (1999) the implementation of a vaccination requirement for entry into the seventh grade in San Diego, Calif.

RESULTS

Vaccination coverage was higher among children subject to the vaccination requirement (seventh-grade students; 60%) than among fifth- and sixth-grade students 1 year before the requirement (13%, P <.001), and 8th- through 12th-grade students not subject to the requirement (27%, P <.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Middle school-entry vaccination requirements can rapidly and substantially raise vaccination coverage among students subject to the law.