Measles vaccination among children in border areas of Yunnan Province, Southwest China

Abstract

Background Border areas are at high risk of measles epidemics. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of the routine two-dose measles containing vaccine (MCV) program in border counties of Southwest China. Methods Data used in the study were derived from a cross-sectional survey among 1,467 children aged 8 to 84 months from five border counties of Yunnan Province, Southwest China in 2016. The participants were recruited using a multistage sampling method. Primary guardians of the children were interviewed to collect information on vaccination history, socioeconomic status, and knowledge about immunization. Both coverage and timely coverage for the first (MCV1) and the second (MCV2) dose of MCV were calculated. The Kaplan-Meier method was performed to estimate the cumulative coverage of MCV, and Log-rank tests were adopted to compare the differences across counties and birth cohorts. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to investigate the predictors of delayed MCV1 vaccination. Results The coverage for MCV1 and MCV2 were 97.5% and 93.4%, respectively. However, only 63.8% and 84.0% of the children received MCV1 or MCV2 on time. Significant differences in the cumulative coverage were detected across counties and birth cohorts. Results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that children whose primary guardian knew the schedule of MCV were less likely to receive MCV1 late (OR = 0.63, P<0.01). For the guardians, doctors at vaccination units were the primary and also the most desired source of vaccination information.

Less than one-fifth of Ethiopian children were vaccinated for measles second dose; evidence from the Ethiopian mini demographic and health survey 2019

“…Regarding previous vaccination status for other vaccines, children who were not vaccinated for the third dose of Pentavalent had 40 % fewer odds of receiving the measles second dose compared to their counterparts. This might be because those children who are not vaccinated for the third dose of the pentavalent vaccine may have less access, and their parents may have poor knowledge about the schedule and importance of the measles second dose vaccine [43] . Women who don’t know the routine schedule and the appropriate age for measles second dose vaccination reduce the vaccination status of their child [44] .…”