Analysis of the measles incidence in Ukraine and the population immunity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15574/SP.2024.138.15Keywords:
measles, vaccine prevention, specific immunity, epidemic processAbstract
Since 2001, due to the effectiveness of vaccines, the Measles Elimination Initiative was introduced. However, there are periodic increases in its incidence. In terms of intensity, the measles epidemic process in Ukraine in 2017-2019 can be considered as an epidemic. In 2022, 205,153 cases of measles were reported worldwide (67% more than in 2021). In 2023, this indicator in the European Region of the World Health Organization increased 30 times compared to 2022. Thus, measles remains a pressing problem.
Aim - to analyze the incidence of measles, particularly among vaccinated individuals, the state of specific population immunity, as well as to assess of the current epidemic situation.
Materials and methods. An analysis was carried out: the incidence of measles in Ukraine (2017-11/30/2023), its level among vaccinated people (2017-2022), the rates of vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) (2016-2023), the state of specific population immunity of the population (2019-2022). Descriptive-evaluative and analytical approaches of the epidemiological method, as well as methods of mathematical statistics were used.
Results and conclusions. The previous rise in the incidence of measles in Ukraine (2017-2019) and the beginning of the current one (2023) occurred against the background of unsatisfactory coverage of the first and second doses of the MMR vaccinations (2016 - 45.5% and 30.2%; 2022 - 74.1% and 69.1%, respectively). The population of all age groups is involved in the intensification of the measles epidemic process (with the exception of patients who were ill in the pre-vaccination period). The high effectiveness of MMR-1 for children aged 1 to 4 years has been shown, with its decrease with increasing age and gaps in the coverage of MMR-2 for children aged 6 years. Unvaccinated adults remain at risk. In 2019-2021, the proportion of individuals with a protective level of specific antibodies was 89-91%, and by age groups - 83-91%. A significant decrease of this indicator was observed in 2022 compared to 2021 in all age groups, with the exception of children aged 1-4 years.
Ensuring proper vaccine prevention in Ukraine is one of the primary tasks for reducing the cyclical outbreaks of measles and achieving its elimination.
No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.
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