Reaching hard-to-reach individuals: Nonselective versus targeted outbreak response vaccination for measles.

ABSTRACT: Current mass vaccination campaigns in measles outbreak response are nonselective with respect to the immune status of individuals. However, the heterogeneity in immunity, due to previous vaccination coverage or infection, may lead to potential bias of such campaigns toward those with previous high access to vaccination and may result in a lower-than-expected effective impact. During the 2010 measles outbreak in Malawi, only 3 of the 8 districts where vaccination occurred achieved a measureable effective campaign impact (i.e., a reduction in measles cases in the targeted age groups greater than that observed in nonvaccinated districts). Simulation models suggest that selective campaigns targeting hard-to-reach individuals are of greater benefit, particularly in highly vaccinated populations

SUBMITTER: Minetti A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3873105 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature