Can Flanders resist the measles outbreak? Assessing vaccination coverage in different age groups among Flemish residents

Epidemiol Infect. 2018 Jun;146(8):1043-1047. doi: 10.1017/S0950268818000985. Epub 2018 May 2.

Abstract

The Belgian strategic plan to eliminate measles contains several vaccination strategies including routine immunisation programmes and catch-up campaigns. A new expanded programme on immunisation-based survey (2016) assessed the uptake of the recommended measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine in three different cohorts: toddlers, adolescents and parents of toddlers. A two-stage cluster sampling technique was used to select 875 toddlers (age 18-24 months) and 1250 adolescents (born in 2000) from 107 municipalities in Flanders. After consent of the parent(s), 746 (85.2%) families of toddlers and 1012 (81.0%) families of adolescents were interviewed at home. Measles vaccination coverage was high at 18-24 months (96.2%) and 81.5% were vaccinated at recommended age. Toddlers who had two siblings or a non-working mother or changed vaccinator were more at risk for not being vaccinated. Coverage of the teenager dose reached 93.5% and was lower in adolescents with educational underachievement or whose mother was part-time working or with a non-Belgian background. Only 56.0% of mothers and 48.3% of fathers remembered having received at least one measles-containing vaccine. Although measles vaccination coverage in toddlers meets the required standards for elimination, administration of the teenager dose of MMR vaccine and parent compliance to the recent measles catch-up campaign in Flanders leave room for improvement.

Keywords: MMR vaccination; vaccination (immunisation); vaccines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Belgium / epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunization Programs / statistics & numerical data*
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Measles / epidemiology*
  • Measles / prevention & control*
  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / administration & dosage*
  • Parents
  • Vaccination / statistics & numerical data*
  • Vaccination Coverage / statistics & numerical data*

Substances

  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine