TETANUS IMMUNITY AMONG ITALIANS BORN AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF MANDATORY VACCINATION OF CHILDREN

In Italy systematic mandatory tetanus immunization of children started in 1968. In a national sample of 241 young males born after 1968 the prevalence of non-immune subjects was 11.2% (5.5% in the North-Centre, 15.9% in the South-Islands; p < 0.02). Comparing these data with the corresponding figure obtained in a previous study of subjects born bef ore 1968 a significant decrease (11.2% versus 32.6%; p < 0.01) is obse rved. The prevalence of non-immune subjects born after 1968 is signifi cantly (p < 0.01) lower than that observed in subjects born before 196 8 by geographical area as well as by area (urban/rural) of residence. These findings indicate that the introduction of compulsory tetanus va ccination for all newborns has favourably affected the immune status o f younger Italian men. However, more efforts should still be addressed to decrease regional inequalities in the delivery of health care.