Highlights
Abstract
Keywords
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
Author contributions
Ethical approval
Financial support
Conflict of interest
Acknowledgements
Appendix A. Supplementary data
References
Abstract
Background
Even though measles vaccination was introduced in the Lao PDR in 1984, coverage rates remain consistently low and outbreaks continue to occur frequently. This study was performed to investigate the seroprevalence of measles and rubella antibodies in vaccinated and unvaccinated children from Central Lao PDR.
Methods
Antibody titres of 1090 children aged 8–29 months who were vaccinated at different levels of the health care system were assessed by ELISA. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify factors affecting seropositivity against measles and rubella.
Results
Among the vaccinated children, 67.5% in Vientiane Province and 76.4% in Bolikhamxay Province were double positive/borderline for measles and rubella IgG. A high proportion of unvaccinated children at both study sites (24.4% and 38.4%) were positive/borderline for measles and/or rubella. Time since vaccination <180 days, more than two siblings, and a mother who is a farmer/labourer were negatively associated with seropositivity.
Conclusions
A high prevalence of measles and rubella antibodies was found in unvaccinated children, indicating widespread circulation of both viruses and underreporting of cases. The high proportion of vaccinated children still susceptible to measles suggests problems with vaccine immunogenicity, emphasizing the need for regular evaluations of vaccine efficacy and management.
Introduction
With large, recurrent outbreaks throughout many parts of the world, measles vaccination is as important as ever. In 2018, measles accounted for more than 140 000 deaths, most of them children <5 years of age, despite an efficient and safe vaccine available worldwide and for more than 50 years. In November 2019, 413 308 cases were reported globally for that year (World Health Organization, 2019a). Even though most individuals are able to eventually clear measles virus infection and establish life-long immunity, the infection causes complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, brain damage, blindness, hearing loss, and death in some patients (World Health Organization, 2019b). Vaccination against measles is normally administered in combination with rubella and with or without mumps vaccination as bivalent (MR) or trivalent vaccine (MMR). Rubella virus infection causes only mild disease, especially in children. Infection during early pregnancy, however, can cause severe foetal defects known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), miscarriage, or stillbirth (World Health Organization, 2016).