Examination of scenarios introducing rubella vaccine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rubella vaccine has yet to be introduced into the national immunization schedule of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); the current burden of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is unknown and likely to be high. An important consideration prior to introducing rubella containing vaccine (RCV) is the potential inverse relationship between RCV coverage and CRS incidence. Increasing RCV coverage will also increase in the average age of infection. Cumulative infections across all age groups will decrease, but the number of infections in age groups vulnerable to CRS may increase.

Methods

Rubella transmission dynamics in the DRC were simulated using a stochastic agent-based model of transmission. Input parameter values for known properties, demographic variables, a

SUBMITTER: Cheng A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8608602 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature