Contribution to public health policy

Cross-sectional antibody prevalence studies carried out through the HPA Seroepidemiology Programme have been particularly useful when formulating, evaluating, and monitoring health policy in a multidisciplinary environment involving epidemiology, microbiology, mathematical modelling and health economics.

Its application to epidemiology through cross sectional prevalence studies has formed a core component of surveillance for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). The collection was first used to provide the baseline MMR antibody prevalence data that was needed to assist with the decision to introduce the MMR vaccine in 1988. It subsequently provided the key evidence that the national measles/rubella initiative of 1994 (MR campaign) was necessary to prevent a measles epidemic and was again used to demonstrate the success of this campaign. The decision to introduce the two-dose schedule of MMR in 1996 was based on data provided by the programme. It provided valuable evidence to support the need for an acellular pertussis booster vaccine in 2001. Most recently the SEU provided key information that was used to inform the decision to introduce HPV vaccination for schoolgirls in the UK.

The SEU has also provided a critical resource to evaluate key childhood vaccine programmes e.g. diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, HiB, meningococcal and pneumococcal disease. It is also key to describe the epidemiology of infections for which vaccines have become available e.g. Varicella, influenza, hepatitis B and HPV.

It has also been used to in relation to other infections of public health relevance for which interventions are available or under development e.g. hepatitis C, Helicobacter, parvovirus B-19, Toxoplasma, Chlamydia and CMV. Finally, the resource has been utilised to examine potential emerging public health problems e.g. Neospora infection and H1N1 influenza.

Last reviewed: 16 February 2010