scholarly journals Are the Objectives Proposed by the WHO for Routine Measles Vaccination Coverage and Population Measles Immunity Sufficient to Achieve Measles Elimination from Europe?

Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 218
Author(s):  
Pedro Plans-Rubió
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
World Health ◽  
Measles Elimination ◽  
Reproduction Numbers ◽  
The World ◽  
Measles Vaccination ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Measles Vaccination Coverage

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) proposed two-dose measles vaccination coverage of at least 95% of the population and percentages of measles immunity in the population of 85%−95% in order to achieve measles elimination in Europe. The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the measles vaccination coverage required to establish herd immunity against measles viruses with basic reproduction numbers (Ro) ranging from 6 to 60, and (2) to assess whether the objectives proposed by the WHO are sufficient to establish herd immunity against measles viruses. Methods: The herd immunity effects of the recommended objectives were assessed by considering the prevalence of protected individuals required to establish herd immunity against measles viruses with Ro values ranging from 6 to 60. Results: The study found that percentages of two-dose measles vaccination coverage from 88% to 100% could establish herd immunity against measles viruses with Ro from 6 to 19, assuming 95% measles vaccination effectiveness. The study found that the objective of 95% for two-dose measles vaccination coverage proposed by the WHO would not be sufficient to establish herd immunity against measles viruses with Ro ≥ 10, assuming 95% measles vaccination effectiveness. By contrast, a 97% measles vaccination coverage objective was sufficient to establish herd immunity against measles viruses, with Ro values from 6 to 13. Measles immunity levels recommended in individuals aged 1−4 years (≥85%) and 5−9 years (≥90%) might not be sufficient to establish herd immunity against most measles viruses, while those recommended in individuals aged 10 or more years (≥95%) could be sufficient to establish herd immunity against measles viruses with Ro values from 6 to 20. Conclusion: To meet the goal of measles elimination in Europe, it is necessary to achieve percentages of two-dose measles vaccination coverage of at least 97%, and measles immunity levels in children aged 1−9 years of at least 95%.

scholarly journals Vaccination Coverage for Routine Vaccines and Herd Immunity Levels against Measles and Pertussis in the World in 2019

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 256
Author(s):  
Pedro Plans-Rubió
Keyword(s):  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
World Health ◽  
Immunization Programs ◽  
National Immunization ◽  
The World ◽  
Measles Vaccination ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Health Organization

In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the Global Vaccine Action Plan with the objective to promote essential vaccinations in all countries and achieve at least 90% vaccination coverage for all routine vaccines by 2020. The study assessed the mean percentages of vaccination coverage in 2019 for 13 routine vaccines, vaccination coverage variation from 2015 to 2019, and herd immunity levels against measles and pertussis in 2019 in countries and regions of WHO. In 2019, the mean percentages of vaccination coverage were lower than 90% for 10 (78.9%) routine vaccines. The mean percentages of vaccination coverage also decreased from 2015 to 2019 for six (46.2%) routine vaccines. The prevalence of individuals with vaccine-induced measles immunity in the target measles vaccination population was 88.1%, and the prevalence of individuals with vaccine-induced pertussis immunity in the target pertussis vaccination population was 81.1%. Herd immunity against measles viruses with Ro = 18 was established in 63 (32.5%) countries but not established in any region. Herd immunity against pertussis agents was not established in any country and in any region of WHO. National immunization programs must be improved to achieve ≥90% vaccination coverage in all countries and regions. Likewise, it is necessary to achieve ≥95% vaccination coverage with two doses of measles vaccines and three doses of pertussis vaccines in all countries and regions.

scholarly journals Diagnostic challenges and pockets of susceptibility identified during a measles outbreak, Luxembourg, 2019

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Kohnen ◽  
Patrick Hoffmann ◽  
Caroline Frisch ◽  
Emilie Charpentier ◽  
Aurélie Sausy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
World Health ◽  
Country Of Birth ◽  
Winter Sports ◽  
Measles Elimination ◽  
Measles Outbreak ◽  
The World ◽  
Neighbouring Country ◽  
Health Organization

Luxembourg was among the first countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region documenting interruption of endemic measles transmission, but an increased incidence was registered in spring 2019. The outbreak started with an unvaccinated student who had been to a winter sports resort in a neighbouring country, where a measles outbreak was ongoing. Subsequently, 12 secondary and two tertiary cases were confirmed among students from the same school, relatives and healthcare workers, as well as six probably unrelated cases. Only 11 cases initially fulfilled the WHO definition for suspected measles cases. Fourteen of 20 cases with information on country of birth and the majority of unvaccinated cases (10/12) were born outside of Luxembourg. Measles IgM antibody results were available for 16 of the confirmed cases, and five of the eight IgM negative cases had been vaccinated at least once. All 21 cases were PCR positive, but for three previously vaccinated cases with multiple specimen types, at least one of these samples was negative. The outbreak highlighted diagnostic challenges from clinical and laboratory perspectives in a measles elimination setting and showed that people born abroad and commuters may represent important pockets of susceptible people in Luxembourg.

scholarly journals European Immunization Week 2008 - time for reflection

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Kreidl ◽  
H Gomes ◽  
P L Lopalco ◽  
K Hagmaier ◽  
L Pastore Celentano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
World Health ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Population Groups ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

This week’s edition of Eurosurveillance is dedicated to European Immunization Week 2008, which will take place from 21 to 27 April. In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) organised the first European Immunization Week (http://www.euro.who.int/vaccine/eiw/20050608_1) to increase vaccination coverage by raising awareness about the importance of immunisation, with a special focus on reaching vulnerable and hard-to-reach population groups. During the week, each participating country implements activities to inform and engage key target groups using the slogan “prevent-protect-immunise” and focuses on critical challenges regarding immunisation in their country.

Measles elimination in the World Health Organization European Region in light of recent outbreaks: Spotlight on the Balkans

2015 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. S20
Author(s):  
J.M. Hübschen ◽  
I. Salimovic-Bešic ◽  
A. Dedeic-Ljubovic ◽  
S. Rakic Adrovic ◽  
A. Sausy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
World Health ◽  
European Region ◽  
The Balkans ◽  
Measles Elimination ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

scholarly journals Epidemiology of Diphtheria in Yemen, 2017-2018: Surveillance Data Analysis (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suaad Ameen Moghalles ◽  
Basher Ahmed Aboasba ◽  
Mohammed Abdullah Alamad ◽  
Yousef Saleh Khader
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Case Fatality Rate ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
World Health ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Fatality Rate ◽  
Probable Case ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

BACKGROUND As a consequence of war and the collapse of the health system in Yemen, which prevented many people from accessing health facilities to obtain primary health care, vaccination coverage was affected, leading to a deadly diphtheria epidemic at the end of 2017. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of diphtheria in Yemen and determine its incidence and case fatality rate. METHODS Data were obtained from the diphtheria surveillance program 2017-2018, using case definitions of the World Health Organization. A probable case was defined as a case involving a person having laryngitis, pharyngitis, or tonsillitis and an adherent membrane of the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nose. A confirmed case was defined as a probable case that was laboratory confirmed or linked epidemiologically to a laboratory-confirmed case. Data from the Central Statistical Organization was used to calculate the incidence per 100,000 population. A <i>P</i> value &lt;.05 was considered significant. RESULTS A total of 2243 cases were reported during the period between July 2017 and August 2018. About 49% (1090/2243, 48.6%) of the cases were males. About 44% (978/2243, 43.6%) of the cases involved children aged 5 to 15 years. Respiratory tract infection was the predominant symptom (2044/2243, 91.1%), followed by pseudomembrane (1822/2243, 81.2%). Based on the vaccination status, the percentages of partially vaccinated, vaccinated, unvaccinated, and unknown status patients were 6.6% (148/2243), 30.8% (690/2243), 48.6% (10902243), and 14.0% (315/2243), respectively. The overall incidence of diphtheria was 8 per 100,000 population. The highest incidence was among the age group &lt;15 years (11 per 100,000 population), and the lowest incidence was among the age group ≥15 years (5 per 100,000 population). The overall case fatality rate among all age groups was 5%, and it was higher (10%) in the age group &lt;5 years. Five governorates that were difficult to access (Raymah, Abyan, Sa'ada, Lahj, and Al Jawf) had a very high case fatality rate (22%). CONCLUSIONS Diphtheria affected a large number of people in Yemen in 2017-2018. The majority of patients were partially or not vaccinated. Children aged ≤15 years were more affected, with higher fatality among children aged &lt;5 years. Five governorates that were difficult to access had a case fatality rate twice that of the World Health Organization estimate (5%-10%). To control the diphtheria epidemic in Yemen, it is recommended to increase routine vaccination coverage and booster immunizations, increase public health awareness toward diphtheria, and strengthen the surveillance system for early detection and immediate response.

scholarly journals Estimated number of deaths directly averted in people 60 years and older as a result of COVID-19 vaccination in the WHO European Region, December 2020 to November 2021

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (47) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaux MI Meslé ◽  
Jeremy Brown ◽  
Piers Mook ◽  
José Hagan ◽  
Roberta Pastore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
World Health ◽  
European Region ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Sensitivity Range ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Since December 2019, over 1.5 million SARS-CoV-2-related fatalities have been recorded in the World Health Organization European Region - 90.2% in people ≥ 60 years. We calculated lives saved in this age group by COVID-19 vaccination in 33 countries from December 2020 to November 2021, using weekly reported deaths and vaccination coverage. We estimated that vaccination averted 469,186 deaths (51% of 911,302 expected deaths; sensitivity range: 129,851–733,744; 23–62%). Impact by country ranged 6–93%, largest when implementation was early.

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