Progress Toward Regional Measles Elimination - Worldwide, 2000-2018

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• World Health Assembly set measles control milestones for 2015 and endorsed the Global Vaccine Action Plan for regional elimination by 2020.
• Progress in measles control and elimination efforts has been tracked globally since 2000.

Purpose of the Study:

• To update the progress report on World Health Assembly milestones and regional measles elimination targets for the period 2000-2018.
• To assess the impact of measles vaccination on mortality and identify challenges to achieving elimination.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of global data on measles vaccination coverage (MCV1), incidence, and mortality from 2000 to 2018.
• Estimation of measles deaths averted by vaccination during the study period.

Main Results:

• Estimated first dose measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) coverage increased from 72% to 86% globally between 2000 and 2018.
• Global annual measles incidence decreased by 66% and estimated deaths by 73% during 2000-2018, with vaccination averting 23.2 million deaths.
• However, measles cases rose by 167% in 2018 compared to 2016, and mortality increased since 2017.

Conclusions:

• Sustained progress towards measles elimination requires strengthened routine immunization systems, addressing immunity gaps, and enhanced surveillance.
• Achieving measles elimination necessitates coordinated global efforts to reach at least 95% coverage with two doses of measles vaccine.