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International migrants could be considered a risk group susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases. We conducted a measles seroprevalence study among 419 marriage migrant women living in Sinan-gun and Wando-gun, South Jeolla Province, located in the southwestern part of Korea. The overall seroimmunity was 92.8%. The seroimmunity varied considerably according to the country of origin and increased with age. Our current analysis could be valuable in the context of discussions concerning vaccination policies for immigrants in Korea.

배경 Immunity of healthcare workers to vaccine-preventable diseases is important to prevent hospital outbreak. We evaluated the sero-epidemiology of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection and measles in sec- ondary hospitals workers in South Korea. 방법 Serum sample were collected from hospital workers in 28 secondary hospitals with 100-300 beds, lo- cated in Jeollanam-do South Korea in 2019. Chemiluminescent immunoassay was used for testing of im- munoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to HAV and measles. 결과 Of total 2,573 hospital workers who were tested for HAV Ig G, 7% were physicians, 54% nurses, 19% nurse aides and 20% paramedical technicians. The overall HAV seropositivity rate was 43.3%. There were significant differences in HAV seropositivity between age groups (P < 0.001): 37.6% for < 25 years, 26.5% for 25-29 years, 25.2% for 30-34 years, 33.3% for 35-39 years, 61.5% for 40-44, and 88.8% for ≥45 years. Among those aged under <40 years old, seroprevalance was significantly lower in nurse aides (23.2%) and paramedical technicians (21.8%) compared to physicians (48.0%) and nurses (33.7%) (P < 0.001). Measles IgG test were performed in 2,068 hospital workers (6% physician, 53% nurse, 20% nurses’ aides and 21% paramedical technicians). The overall positivity of measles Ig G was 90.9%. The seropositivity for measles significantly increased with age (P < 0.001): 75.2% for < 25 years, 89.6% for 25-29 years, 98.1% for 30-34 years, 92.4% for 35-39 years, 97.4% for 40-44, and 97.7% for ≥45 years. There was no significant differences in measles immunity between occupations. 결론 Our findings suggest the need to augment appropriate vaccine programs for young hospital workers in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]