Analysis and Outlook for the Development of Measles Epidemic Situation during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Relevance. The success of the global community in the fight against measles through vaccination at the beginning of the twentyfirst century allowed WHO to declare the goal of eliminating this infection by 2010. However, ten years later, the problem of the growing incidence of measles has become relevant again for all countries of the world. The pandemic of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has affected all spheres of human life and has exacerbated the situation in the fight against other infections, including those managed with the help of specific prophylaxis. Since the measles contagiosity index and mortality rate are significantly higher than similar characteristics of COVID-19, the risk of increasing the incidence of this infection in the coming years is difficult to overestimate.Aim of the study: to assess the epidemic situation of measles in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the prospects for its development; to propose preventive measures.Materials and methods. The article analyzes the statistical materials available on the official websites of the WHO (WHO). https://www.who.int/data/), the CDC US (https://www. cdc.gov) and the Federal Service of Rospotrebnadzor (https://www.rospotrebnadzor.ru/) on vaccination coverage and measles incidence in 13 countries in the WHO European Region and the United States. The epidemic situation on measles, as well as the level of population coverage with vaccination against its pathogen in the Russian Federation, were assessed according to the Federal State Statistical Observation forms 2010 – 2020: Form 2 «Information on infectious and parasitic diseases» and Form 6 «Information on the populations of children and adults vaccinated against infectious diseases».Results. It has been established that the increase in the measles incidence occurred in 2017–2019 worldwide, including European countries with a population coverage of two vaccine doses at the 97% level between 2010 and 2019. The prevalence of measles cases in children under the age of 10 is shown, as well as the wide range (from 56.9% to 10.9%) in the proportion of vaccinated persons among them. The results obtained indicate the existence of problems in the organization of modern vaccine prevention. The introduction of widespread restrictive and quarantine measures against the COVID-19 pandemic, on the one hand, has reduced the incidence of measles and, on the other hand, has exacerbated the difficulties in implementing measles prevention. Thus, the results indicate a possible increase in measles incidence in the population after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.Conclusion. It is necessary to immediately develop an action plan to catch up on the coverage and increase the rate of routine vaccination, to improve the statistical record of persons subject to the introduction of the vaccine and vaccinated, as well as to overcome anti-vaccination attitude among the population.

Measles prevention according to Degkwitz'y

Measles is considered to be an innocent disease because the vast majority of children who contract the disease recover.

Monitoring the quality of domestic measles prevention vaccines

Relevance. The need to increase vaccination coverage in order to eliminate measles in Russia and increase public confidence in vaccination requires constant monitoring of the quality of vaccines used for measles prevention. Aim. Analysis of laboratory quality parameters of commercial series of vaccines for measles prevention produced by JSC NPO Microgen, issued from 2015 to 2020, in comparison with the series issued in the period from 2002 to 2009. Materials and methods. The object of the study was a live measles culture vaccine and a live mumps-measles culture vaccine produced by JSC «NPO «Microgen». The quality analysis of vaccines was carried out according to the consolidated production and control protocols of 422 series of measles vaccine and 855 series of mumps-measles vaccine issued in 2015-2020, and 1043 series of measles vaccine and 902 series of mumpsmeasles vaccine issued in 2002-2009. Results and discussion. It is shown that the quality of the studied vaccines is stable during 16 years of monitoring. The sensitizing properties of both vaccines significantly decreased during the last 6 years of follow-up due to a decrease in the residual content of the antibiotic in the vaccination dose to less than the detection limit, as well as due to the low content of heterogeneous protein (bovine serum albumin). Conclusion. The quality of domestic vaccines for the prevention of measles and mumps meets who requirements; it is characterized by stability over 16 years of follow-up and minimal sensitizing properties. Information about the quality of domestic vaccines for the prevention of measles is an important argument for countering the antivaccination movement, which is a global problem and is recognized by who as one of the most important threats to the health of the world's population.