A survey on Measles and Rubella Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) in Iran

Abstract

Background: Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) have been considered as a strategic key towards elimination of measles and rubella. This study aimed at identifying the coverage of vaccination in target population children. Methods: The study was carried out in South-East of Iran on a total of 6838 randomly selected children. Information was collected by trained interviewers using a validated questionnaire. The data was analyzed through descriptive statistics (i.e. frequencies and percentages) and 95% confidence interval. Results: Overall, 98.7% of children were vaccinated during SIAs campaign. Vaccination cards were available for about two-thirds of the participants at the time of home visits while 95.3% of them reportedly received an immunization card. Refusal to vaccinate (31%), not informed (24.2%), children being sick (22.4%), and travel (20.2%) were the main reasons for not vaccinating children (n = 86) during the campaign. The main sites for vaccination were school (46.5%) and health centers (46.4%). Fever (44.8%) and severe pain at the injection site (36.2%) were reported as the most frequent complications by the study participants. Prevention of measles and rubella (66.6%) and health staff recommendations (31.4%) were the main vaccination incentives. Conclusions: To sum up, Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) are a good approach towards high coverage of immunization and attain measles and rubella elimination.

Estimation of measles risk using the World Health Organization Measles Programmatic Risk Assessment Tool, Iran

“…The subnational coverage of measles and supplemental immunization activities (SIAs) for target age group should be done annually in high risk and very high risk districts that have poor surveillance quality. However, based on recent research in Iran this index was 98.7% [9] . Rapid and wide progress regarding to elimination and eradication of measles was conducted in Iran [11] .…”

“…According to our results, the trend in MCV1 and MCV2 coverage and high coverage of immunization beside the minimum of dropout rates from MCV1 to MCV2 and dropout rates from MCV1 to first dose of DPT0 or Pentavalent vaccine are important factors for low overall risk of measles in Iran. Recent studies in Iran showed that there are some documentations for elimination of measles [ 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 18 , 20 ]. The subnational coverage of measles and supplemental immunization activities (SIAs) for target age group should be done annually in high risk and very high risk districts that have poor surveillance quality.…”

“…The overall coverage of full immunization in Iran for all routine vaccines is 96.8% [8] and the immunization coverage for MMR1 and MMR2 in under 5 year old children in suburb area of big Iranian cities was calculated as 97.1% and 94.9% respectively [ 7 , 8 ]. Moreover, the Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) in Iranian target population children was estimated 98.7% [9] . Despite global improvement in annual measles incidence and mortality since 2000, progress toward elimination goals has slowed.…”

“…Regular annual measles programmatic risk assessments can be used to help plan risk mitigation activities and measure progress toward measles elimination [15] . Moreover, risk assessment results can be used as a guide for monitoring and supervision and conducting of nationwide SIA and in target area [ 9 , 15 ]. Annual assessments using the programmatic risk tool could provide valuable information for immunization program and surveillance staff at the national level and in each district to guide activities to enhance measles elimination efforts, such as strengthening routine immunization services, improving immunization campaign planning, and intensifying surveillance [4] .…”

The spatial analysis of annual measles incidence and transition threat assessment in Iran in 2016

“…Iran is one of the countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (2). During the past years, the routine immunization coverage was increased and the surveillance system data were improved and, consequently, the disease incidence decreased (3)(4)(5)(6)(7). Thus, the endemic virus transmission have ______________________________ Corresponding author: Dr Hossein Ansari, ansarih@razi.tums.ac.ir 1 ↑What is "already known" in this topic: During the past years, the routine immunization coverage of measles was increased and the surveillance quality was improved.…”