GP TRAINEES AND MMR IMMUNIZATION

Three months after the launch of the MMR programme in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a postal questionnaire was sent to all GP scheme trainees in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The response rate was 81%. All trainees were enthusiastic about promoting MMR immunisation; with 27% favouring compulsory immunisation. 9% had never seen a patient with measles. This did not alter their attitude towards the beneficial effects of MMR immunisation. Of pre-practice year trainees 26% felt their level of knowledge of immunisation was inadequate, 59% claimed to have received no education on immunisation during their vocational training to date. This may reflects deficiencies in their medical curriculum to-date. 95% of third-year trainees indicated that their practice experience had been the source of at least some of their education on immunisation. Only 46% of trainees in the Republic of Ireland were aware of their Department of Health's1 aims in launching the MMR immunisation campaign.