Field evaluation of measles vaccine effectiveness among children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Issue 29 (26th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Doshi, Reena H.; Mukadi, Patrick; Shidi, Calixte; Mulumba, Audry; Hoff, Nicole A.; Gerber, Sue; Okitolonda-Wemakoy, Emile; Ilunga, Benoit Kebela; Muyembe, Jean-Jacques; Rimoin, Anne W.
• Is Part Of: Vaccine. Volume 33:Issue 29(2015)
• Page Start: 3407
• Page End: 3414
• Publication Date: 2015-06-26
• Subjects: Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.04.067
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-410X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="abs0005"> <title id="sect0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="sect0010">Background</title> <p id="spar0005">Large-scale measles outbreaks in areas with high administrative vaccine coverage rates suggest the need to re-evaluate measles prevention and control in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Monitoring of measles Vaccine Effectiveness (VE) is a useful measure of quality control in immunization programs. We estimated measles VE among children aged 12–59 months in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) using laboratory surveillance data from 2010–2012.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0015">Methods</title> <p id="spar0010">We used the case-based surveillance system with laboratory confirmation to conduct a case-control study using the test negative design. Cases and controls were selected based on presence (<italic>n</italic> = 1044) or absence (<italic>n</italic> = 1335) of measles specific antibody IgM or epidemiologic linkage. Risk factors for measles were assessed using unconditional logistic regression, stratified by age.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0020">Results</title> <p id="spar0015">Among children 12–59 months, measles vaccination was protective against measles [aOR (95% C)], 0.20 (0.15–0.26) and estimated VE was 80% (95% CI 74–85%). Year of diagnosis, 2011: 6.02 (4.16–8.72) and 2012; 8.31 (5.57–12.40) was a risk factor for measles when compared to 2010. Compared to Kinshasa, children in Bas-Congo, Kasai-Oriental, Maniema and South Kivu provinces all had higher odds of developing measles. Measles VE was similar for children 12–23 months and 24–59 months (80% and 81% respectively).</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0025">Conclusions</title> <p id="spar0020">Repeated occurrences of measles outbreaks and lower than expected VE estimates suggest the need to further evaluate measles vaccine efficacy and improve vaccine delivery strategies in DRC.</p> </sec> </abstract>