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Impact assessment of mass measles vaccination
Vikas K Desai1, Smita J Kapadia, Pradeep Kumar
1Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Government Medical College, Surat, India. psmvikas@hotmail.com
Insights
A mass measles vaccination campaign in Surat City slums significantly boosted vaccination coverage from 48.3% to 73.7%. This initiative reduced measles incidence by over half, demonstrating the effectiveness of widespread immunization in urban public health.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Measles remains a significant public health concern in urban areas of India.
- Targeted interventions are crucial for controlling infectious diseases in densely populated slums.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a mass measles vaccination campaign on vaccination coverage and disease incidence.
- To assess changes in measles epidemiology following a public health intervention in Surat City.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study comparing baseline data (May 1998) with post-campaign data (October 2000).
- Utilized cluster sampling to select 30 slum clusters, interviewing 3,147 children under five.
- Assessed vaccination status and measles incidence (fever with rash) through parental recall.
Main Results:
- Measles incidence decreased from 7.7% to 3.5% post-campaign.
- Vaccination coverage increased from 48.3% to 73.7%.
- Unvaccinated children had an 8-fold higher incidence of measles; age at illness onset shifted to older children.
Conclusions:
- The mass vaccination campaign successfully increased measles vaccination coverage in Surat City slums.
- The campaign led to a significant reduction in measles incidence.
- Immunization efforts contributed to a shift in the age distribution of measles cases.
Objective:
The mass measles vaccination campaign was conducted in the slums of Surat City, in Gujarat State, as a part of urban measles control initiative in India. One dose each of the vaccine was administered to children in the age range of 9-59 months residing in these slums, regardless of their previous vaccination status.
Methods:
One year later, (October 2000), the present study was carried out in order to assess the impact of the mass vaccination campaign on the vaccination coverage and on the incidence of measles by comparing the findings with those of the baseline survey carried out in May 98. This was a retrospective study with a recall period of the preceding year. 3,147 children under five were studied in thirty slum clusters selected by the cluster sampling method. The parents/caretakers of these children were interviewed for information on any episode of fever with rash conforming to the case definition.
Result:
The incidence rate for measles declined from 7.7 percent reported in the baseline (May 1998) to 3.5 percent in the impact assessment study. The incidence was 8 times higher in unvaccinated children. The mean and median age at contracting the illness increased from 26 +/- 14.2 months and 26 months in the baseline to 30.9 +/- 14.7 months and 30 months respectively in the impact assessment. The vaccination coverage had improved from 48.3 percent to 73.7 percent following the campaign.
Conclusion:
The compaign increased vaccination coverage decreased disease incidence and caused a shift towards higher age-groups in vaccinated children.
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