Progress Toward Regional Measles Elimination - Worldwide, 2000-2019

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• World Health Assembly set measles control milestones for 2015, including vaccination coverage and incidence reduction.
• Global Vaccine Action Plan aimed for measles elimination in five WHO regions by 2020.
• Progress in measles control and elimination efforts from 2000-2019 is assessed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate progress towards World Health Assembly measles control milestones.
• To assess the status of regional measles elimination objectives.
• To identify challenges and recommend strategies for future measles control.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of global measles vaccination coverage data (MCV1).
• Review of measles surveillance sensitivity indicators.
• Examination of global measles incidence and mortality trends.
• Assessment of measles deaths averted through interventions.

Main Results:

• Routine measles-containing vaccine first dose (MCV1) coverage plateaued at 84%-85% after increasing from 72% in 2000.
• Measles surveillance sensitivity targets were not met by approximately half of all countries.
• Annual reported measles incidence decreased significantly by 2016 but rose by 2019.
• Estimated measles deaths decreased by 62% between 2000 and 2019, averting 25.5 million deaths.

Conclusions:

• While significant progress has been made in reducing measles mortality, global measles elimination targets remain challenging.
• Stagnating vaccination coverage and surveillance gaps hinder progress.
• Additional strategies are needed to reach unvaccinated children, close immunity gaps, and enhance surveillance systems.