Measles and rubella serosusceptibity among population vaccinated with different schedules: the potential impact on measles-rubella elimination in Iran

BackgroundIranian children were vaccinated with the scheduled two doses of monovalent measles vaccine (mMV) from 1984. In December 2003, a nationwide campaign of measles-rubella (MR) immunization was established to vaccinate 5-25year- old individuals. In 2004, the mMV was replaced with measles- mumps- rubella (MMR) vaccine. Despite the high vaccination coverage, the outbreaks of measles still occur in the country. In this Study, the MR immunity status of various age groups, vaccinated with different schedules was investigated, and the immunologic response of seronegative subjects to revaccination was examined.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted among 7-33-year-old healthy individuals with a documented history of measles vaccination from November 2017 to June 2018. The subjects were categorized as follows: group A, including 20-33year-old individuals; vaccinated with 1-2 doses of mMV at ages 9 and 15months, and revaccinated with MR, group B, including 15-19-year-old individuals, vaccinated with two doses of mMV at 9 and 15months of age, and received additional dose of MMR upon school entrance, group C, including 11-14year-old individuals, vaccinated with two-doses of MMR at the ages of 15months and 6years, and group D, including 7-10year-old individuals vaccinated with two-doses of MMR vaccine at the ages 12 and 18months, respectively. Levels of antimeasles- antirubella IgG antibodies in the collected sera were measured. Also antimeasles- antirubella IgM and IgG of seronegative individuals were reexamined at 4-6weeks after MMR revaccination. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods.ResultsA total of 635 individuals were investigated in this study. Group A, 98; group B, 295; group C, 139; and group D, 103 persons. Overall, 12.3 and 18.4% of the population were seronegative for measles and rubella antibodies. This rate varied greatly between the 4 groups: group A, 0/0-2%; group B,15.2-25.0%; group C,11.5-17.2%; and groupD,14.6-18.4%. After revaccination, 92 and 94.9% of seronegative individuals showed IgG response to measles and rubella vaccines, respectively.ConclusionDespite the high coverage rate of M-R containing vaccines, a significant number of vaccinated subjects were seronegative for measles and rubella, possibly because of secondary vaccine failure; this may negatively affect measles-rubella elimination targets in the country. If these findings are confirmed in similar future studies, a more robust regional/national supplementary immunization activity will be considered.