Hello,
This is the subject of my article: "Measles vaccination: a safe and effective approach to preventing measles and its complications, the case of the Uvira health zone, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo".
I'd like to understand why we recorded over 150 deaths and more than 2,000 cases in last year's measles epidemic at a time when routine immunization coverage is still over 95%.
Are children vaccinated against measles less likely to contract measles or develop fewer complications than unvaccinated children?
In my experience, routine vaccination coverage is always over 95%, but despite this, we still record many deaths due to complications.
I'd like to do a retrospective study of measles cases, but I'm wondering whether a long-term prospective study wouldn't be better...
Thank you very much for your input and advice
Israel
Were children vaccinated with doses?
The following sources may be useful:
- Measles vaccines: WHO position paper, April 2017 – Recommendations - ScienceDirect
- Low percentages of measles vaccination coverage with two doses of vaccine and low herd immunity levels explain measles incidence and persistence of measles in the European Union in 2017–2018 | SpringerLink
hI Israel,
A single dose of MMR vaccine should give life-long protection to 95% of the children within the vaccinated group. A second dose of MMR vaccine should even give life-long protection to 99% of the children within the vaccinated group.
With vaccination Immunoglobulins first IgM later IgG against measles virus are formed within the body. These IgG's provide the protection if a person is naturally infected with measles later in life. Vaccinated people could therefore still be infected with measles, but clear an infection very rapidly.
What I am missing in your question are demographics, how many people live in DRC South-Kivu? If these are millions, than the 2000 cases and 150 deaths might account for the 1% of vaccinated people that do not develop the protective IgG against measles due to a biological disadvantage, or these 2000/150 account for the 5% of people that are not vaccinated at all. Even with a national vaccination coverage of 95%, specific groups in your population might not be vaccinated and outbreaks could occur amongst these unvaccinated groups.
This is what we sometimes see in my country, the Netherlands, were groups of fundamentalist christians refuse vaccination and outbreaks sometimes occur in the area's where these people live.
Hope this helps, good luck,
Gijs
In my view, I think the more research needs to be done on the strain of Measles virus given in the vaccine dose. Because almost the same, though not as high number of morbidity and few mortality cases where recorded in my country Nigeria. I feel that the most probable reasons should be that after one confirms that the Measles vaccine strains are potent, then look at the storage chain, means of transportation to vaccination sites. Then possibly the issue of being really immunized after being vaccinated will then be looked at at from the immunological standpoints
In my view, I think the more research needs to be done on the strain of Measles virus given in the vaccine dose. Because almost the same, though not as high number of morbidity and few mortality cases where recorded in my country Nigeria. I feel that the most probable reasons should be that after one confirms that the Measles vaccine strains are potent, then look at the storage chain and means of transportation to vaccination sites. Then possibly the issue of being really immunized after being vaccinated will then be looked at from the immunological standpoints
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