文本框: MMR vaccination: The Finnish success story Peltola H University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Objective: To look at what has been achieved in Finland with a systematic immunization program of children by using trivalent measles–mumps–rubella (MMR) vaccine. Methods: A national project aiming at the elimination of the MMR diseases from Finland (population at 5 million) was launched in 1982. Two vaccine doses have been administered by public health nurses, voluntarily and free of charge, at age 14–18 months and 6 years. Only one vaccine brand has been used, the Moraten strain being for measles, Jeryl Lynn B for mumps, and Wistar 27/3 for rubella. Special attention has been paid to maintain high vaccination coverage. Thorough data have been collected prospectively, for almost 20 years to date. Results: Because the incidence of MMR soon started to decline dramatically, the diagnosis was shifted to serology. In 1995, the last endemic case of measles was reported. Mumps and rubella followed one year later. Finland is the first country in the world with this documentation for all MMR components. The vaccine has proven to be very safe; overall, only 6% of vaccinees experienced any vaccine-attributable reaction and no sequelae were observed. Vaccine failures have occurred though very rarely. Conclusion: Systematic realization of the two-dose vaccination program in children has interrupted the circulation of all MMR viruses. To maintain this good situation, the high coverage has to be maintained in the future. A few infections imported from abroad demonstrate that the risk still exists, and therefore Finland must continue the path taken in 1982.