Post-Vaccination Immunity Against Measles in Under Twenty-Five-Year-Old Population of Ahvaz, Southwest of Iran

Abstract

Background:Measles is a severe contagious disease, preventable by vaccination. The Ministry of Health and Medical Sciences of Islamic Republic of Iran, has launched a mass Measles vaccination campaign throughout the country from 2003. More than 32 million inhabitants between 5 and 25 years old received the measles vaccine. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of positive measles antibody titers in target groups (subjects under 25 year olds) who had received mass vaccination. Patients and Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional study on 900 subjects (363 males and 537 females), referred to health care and medical center of Ahvaz during 2011. Measles IgG antibody of serum was measured using the ELISA method. Results: Overall, 821 (91.2%) of the studied population under 25 years, had immunity to measles. Among girls and boys, 92.2% and 89.8% were seropositive, respectively. These differences were not statistically significant between the two sexes (P = 0.133). Anti-measles antibody titer increased with the increase of age from ≤ 5 to 21 -25 years (87.3% in ≤ 5-year-old group vs. 96.5 in 21 to 25-year-old group). These differences were statistically significant between the age groups (P = 0.021). Conclusions: Results indicated that the present vaccination program is insufficient for immunity against measles in this area. The general population immunity was lower than the necessary level for the elimination of measles. Therefore, sero-epidemiological studies are necessary to organize national programs for control and elimination of measles.

Evaluation of Immunity against Rubella and Measles Nine Years after Mass Vaccination Program in Babol Medical Students in Iran

“…In addition measles antibody prevalence was reported in 90.3% and 91.6% of subjects in Babol and Tabriz, respectively (10,11). Based on a comprehensive investigation among 900 subjects (under 25 years old) who referred to health care and medical center of Ahvaz during 2011, 91.2% had immunity to measles (12). In the present study, 99.0% of the students had sufficient rubella immunity, which is consistent with previous reports from Iran (6,8,13).…”

Measles Outbreak in a Rural Population in Bahar District, Hamadan Province, West of Iran in 2018

“…Compared to other investigated age groups, individuals in the 15-29 yr age group had the least immunity against measles. Concordance with our results, in Urmia of Iran and Turkey, respectively, anti-measles antibody titer was increased with the increase of age 15 , 18 . The reason for higher level of immunity in the higher age groups can be due to the efficacy of mass campaign for vaccination of MR. Of course, the level of measles immunity of 2-5 yr-olds prior was measured to the MR campaign, increasing age was associated with increase in antibody level against measles 19 .…”

“…Results of the cross-sectional study on 1368 children aged 30–54 months on south-east of Iran showed the 93.7% prevalence rate of anti-measles IgG 14 . Similar result was reached in another study in south-west of Iran on 900 populations under 25 yr which indicates 91.2% immunity against measles 15 . In Pakistan as a neighborhood country and endemic country for measles disease, 93.5% of children of 1 to 10 yr of age were immune against measles 16 .…”

Systematic Review of Measles and Rubella Serology Studies

“…We identified over 220 studies that provided cross‐sectional data and nearly 180 studies that reported on immunity for women of child‐bearing age, primarily for rubella. Table summarizes the over 400 cross‐sectional and women of child‐bearing age measles and rubella serological studies…”