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Measles and age of vaccination
Abstract:
Measles is responsible for high morbidity and mortality in children particularly in developing countries. Infants, found by analytical studies to constitute a high risk group, are usually not covered by current vaccination programmes. In Kuwait in the epidemic years during the period 1976-1982, the incidence of measles in infants under one year was found to be more than five times that in the population over one year of age, ranging between 758 and 992 per 100000 live births. During this period as many as one fifth of the total cases (13.3-21.7%) and about one-third of the total deaths (35%) occurred in infants. The mean fatality rate for infants under one year was 3.3 while for the population one year and above it was 1.4. As the immunity derived from the mother declines markedly a large majority of children over six months of age become susceptible to measles. There is a strong case for lowering the age of vaccination against measles to protect the infants, at least in the developing countries, and to control and eventually eradicate the disease.
Insights
Infants under one year old face high measles risk and mortality, especially in developing nations. Lowering the measles vaccination age is crucial for infant protection and disease eradication.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Measles causes significant child morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries.
- Infants are a high-risk group often excluded from current vaccination programs.
- Maternal immunity wanes after six months, leaving infants susceptible to measles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess measles incidence and mortality in infants under one year in Kuwait.
- To evaluate the risk of measles in infants compared to older populations.
- To advocate for adjusting measles vaccination age in developing countries.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of measles epidemic data from Kuwait between 1976 and 1982.
- Comparison of measles incidence, caseFatality rates, and mortality in infants versus the general population.
- Epidemiological data analysis.
Main Results:
- Infant measles incidence was over five times higher than in the population over one year (758-992 per 100,000 live births).
- Infants accounted for 13.3-21.7% of total cases and 35% of total deaths.
- The infant case fatality rate (3.3) was more than double that of the older population (1.4).
Conclusions:
- Infants under one year represent a vulnerable population with disproportionately high measles morbidity and mortality.
- Current vaccination schedules may not adequately protect infants, necessitating a review.
- Lowering the vaccination age for measles is recommended to protect infants and control the disease in developing countries.