Related Experiment Videos
Measles vaccines: WHO position paper, April 2017 - Recommendations
Abstract:
This article presents the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommendations on the use of measles vaccines excerpted from the WHO position paper on Measles vaccines: WHO position paper - April 2017, published in the Weekly Epidemiological Record [1]. This position paper replaces the 2009 WHO position paper on measles vaccines [2]. The position paper summarizes the most recent developments in the field of measles and includes removal of introduction criteria for the routine second dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV2), guidance on when to vaccinate infants from 6months of age, and guidance on re-vaccination of HIV-infected children receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). Footnotes to this paper provide a number of core references including references to grading tables that assess the quality of the scientific evidence, and to the evidence-to-recommendation table. In accordance with its mandate to provide guidance to Member States on health policy matters, WHO issues a series of regularly updated position papers on vaccines and combinations of vaccines against diseases that have an international public health impact. These papers are concerned primarily with the use of vaccines in large-scale immunization programmes; they summarize essential background information on diseases and vaccines, and conclude with WHO's current position on the use of vaccines in the global context. Recommendations on the use of measles vaccines were discussed by SAGE in November 2013, October 2015 and October 2016; evidence presented at these meetings can be accessed at: www.who.int/immunization/sage/meetings/2013/november/presentations_background_docs/en/, www.who.int/immunization/sage/meetings/2015/october/presentations_background_docs/en/ and www.who.int/immunization/sage/meetings/2016/october/presentations_background_docs/en/.
Insights
The World Health Organization updated its measles vaccine recommendations, including guidance for infants and HIV-infected children. These guidelines support global immunization programs against measles.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Vaccinology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Measles remains a significant public health concern globally.
- Previous WHO guidelines on measles vaccination were established in 2009.
- The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) reviews vaccine recommendations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the updated World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for measles-containing vaccine (MCV) use.
- To provide guidance on MCV2 introduction, infant vaccination schedules, and vaccination of specific populations.
- To replace the 2009 WHO position paper on measles vaccines.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of recent scientific evidence on measles and measles vaccines.
- Discussion and deliberation by the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE).
- Development of evidence-based recommendations for global immunization programs.
Main Results:
- Removal of introduction criteria for the routine second dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV2).
- Updated guidance on vaccinating infants starting at 6 months of age.
- Specific recommendations for re-vaccination of HIV-infected children on highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART).
Conclusions:
- The updated WHO recommendations aim to strengthen measles control and elimination efforts worldwide.
- These guidelines facilitate the adaptation of national immunization programs to current epidemiological evidence.
- The recommendations emphasize the importance of timely and effective measles vaccination across diverse populations.