Assessment of coverage levels of single dose measles vaccine

ABSTRACT

To study the consequences of low coverage levels of a single dose of measles vaccine. Design: Case series. Place and Duration of Study The study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, Rawalpindi General Hospital [RGH] from January 2001 to August 2001. Patients and Information about 68 admitted cases of measles was collected on a structured proforma with reference to epidemiological profile, vaccination history and comorbidities. Mean age observed in measles cases was 2 years and 8 months with a range from 3 months to 8 years. Maximum number of cases reported were <1 year of age [n=22,32%]. Fifty% of cases were seen among vaccinated children. Seventy-five% [n=51] had history of contact with a measles case. Pneumonia was the commonest complication followed by acute gastroenteritis, encephalitis, febrile convulsions, oral ulcers, oral thrush, eye changes of vitamin-A deficiency and pulmonary tuberculosis [T.B.] in descending order of frequency. Fifty-four cases were successfully treated for complications of measles and discharged. Nine cases left against medical advice. Five patients died ' all of them had encephalitis either alone [n=1] or in combination with pneumonia and acute gastroenteritis [n=4]. There is a dire need to increase the immunization coverage to reduce the rate of vaccine failure and achieve effective control of measles