BACKGROUND: A national campaign was conducted in Haiti in 2007-2008 to vaccinate all children and adolescents aged 1-19 years with measles-rubella vaccine in support of achieving the Region of the Americas' 2010 goal of eliminating rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Measles-rubella vaccine was introduced into the country's routine childhood immunization schedule after the campaign. METHODS: A nationwide, stratified, multistage cluster sample survey of 20859 children was conducted to assess coverage using house-to-house interviews. RESULTS: Estimated national coverage with measles-rubella vaccine was 79.2% (95% confidence interval, 77.6%-80.7%), ranging from 90.2% in Nord-Ouest Department to 70.0% in Cite Soleil Metropolitan Area. National coverage was lower for children aged 1-5 years (76.7%) than for those aged 6-19 years (80.3%) (P< .001) but similar in rural departments (79.4%) and metropolitan areas (78.6%; P = .61). The reasons most frequently cited for nonparticipation in the campaign were that the child was ill or unavailable (18.6%), did not know vaccinations were important (13.8%), did not know when to go or forgot to go (13.3%), and did not have enough time (12.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The measles-rubella vaccination campaign was critical for raising rubella immunity levels in children and adolescents in Haiti. To remain free of rubella transmission and CRS, Haiti must also achieve and sustain high routine measles-rubella vaccination coverage and maintain high-quality integrated measles-rubella and CRS surveillance, including laboratory-based confirmation for reported rash illnesses. If routine measles-rubella vaccination coverage is suboptimal or if gaps in coverage are identified, additional mass campaigns with measles-rubella vaccine will be necessary.
BACKGROUND: A national campaign was conducted in Haiti in 2007-2008 to vaccinate all children and adolescents aged 1-19 years with measles-rubella vaccine in support of achieving the Region of the Americas' 2010 goal of eliminating rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Measles-rubella vaccine was introduced into the country's routine childhood immunization schedule after the campaign. METHODS: A nationwide, stratified, multistage cluster sample survey of 20859 children was conducted to assess coverage using house-to-house interviews. RESULTS: Estimated national coverage with measles-rubella vaccine was 79.2% (95% confidence interval, 77.6%-80.7%), ranging from 90.2% in Nord-Ouest Department to 70.0% in Cite Soleil Metropolitan Area. National coverage was lower for children aged 1-5 years (76.7%) than for those aged 6-19 years (80.3%) (P< .001) but similar in rural departments (79.4%) and metropolitan areas (78.6%; P = .61). The reasons most frequently cited for nonparticipation in the campaign were that the child was ill or unavailable (18.6%), did not know vaccinations were important (13.8%), did not know when to go or forgot to go (13.3%), and did not have enough time (12.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The measles-rubella vaccination campaign was critical for raising rubella immunity levels in children and adolescents in Haiti. To remain free of rubella transmission and CRS, Haiti must also achieve and sustain high routine measles-rubella vaccination coverage and maintain high-quality integrated measles-rubella and CRS surveillance, including laboratory-based confirmation for reported rash illnesses. If routine measles-rubella vaccination coverage is suboptimal or if gaps in coverage are identified, additional mass campaigns with measles-rubella vaccine will be necessary.
Authors: Rania A Tohme; Jeannot François; Kathleen Wannemuehler; Roc Magloire; M Carolina Danovaro-Holliday; Brendan Flannery; Kathleen F Cavallaro; David L Fitter; Nora Purcell; Amber Dismer; Jordan W Tappero; John F Vertefeuille; Terri B Hyde Journal: Trop Med Int Health Date: 2014-07-16 Impact factor: 2.622
Authors: Rania A Tohme; Jeannot Francois; Kathleen F Cavallaro; Gilson Paluku; Idrissa Yalcouye; Ernsley Jackson; Tracie Wright; Paul Adrien; Mark A Katz; Terri B Hyde; Pape Faye; Francine Kimanuka; Vance Dietz; John Vertefeuille; David Lowrance; Benjamin Dahl; Roopal Patel Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2017-10 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Saikarthik Jayakumar; Saraswathi Ilango; Senthil Kumar K; Abdullah Alassaf; Abdullah Aljabr; Anand Paramasivam; Suresh Mickeymaray; Yazeed Mohammed Hawsah; Ahmed Saad Aldawish Journal: Front Med (Lausanne) Date: 2022-05-04
Authors: Yuan He; Alan Zarychta; Joseph B Ranz; Mary Carroll; Lori M Singleton; Paria M Wilson; Elizabeth P Schlaudecker Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2012-12-07 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Isaac Chun-Hai Fung; David L Fitter; Rebekah H Borse; Martin I Meltzer; Jordan W Tappero Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2013-10 Impact factor: 2.345