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Immunity to tetanus among Italians born between 1956 and 1963

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Abstract

Systematic mandatory immunization of children against tetanus begun in Italy in 1968. Preceeding birth cohorts, accounting for almost 80% of present Italian population, were poorly immune or totally non-immune; around 90% of cases of tetanus occurring in Italy in recent years are observed among them.

In a national sample of 4770 young males born between 1956 and 1963, about one third was not protected. Prevalence of non-immune subjects was greater in the Southern Regions and the Islands, in rural areas, among the unemployed, among the older birth cohorts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy

    F. Rosmini, S. Conti & P. Pasquini

  2. Department of Immunology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

    G. Gentili, M. Wirz & C. Collotti

  3. Department of Public Health, II University of Rome ≪ Tor Vergata ≫, Italy

    A. Pana

  4. Italian Navy Medical Services, Navy Hospital, La Spezia, Italy

    I. Terzi

Authors
  1. F. Rosmini
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  2. G. Gentili
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  3. M. Wirz
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  4. C. Collotti
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  5. A. Pana
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  6. I. Terzi
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  7. S. Conti
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  8. P. Pasquini
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Rosmini, F., Gentili, G., Wirz, M. et al. Immunity to tetanus among Italians born between 1956 and 1963. Eur J Epidemiol 3, 302–307 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00149740

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