Increasing Measles Seroprevalence in a Sample of Pediatric and Adolescent Population of Tuscany (Italy): A Vaccination Campaign Success

Background: Despite the National Plan for the Elimination of Measles and congenital Rubella (NPEMcR), in 2017, a measles outbreak occurred in Italy, due to sub-optimal vaccination coverage (<95%) for many years. Since that year, the anti-measles vaccination became compulsory in minors (0–16 years...

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Main Authors: Beatrice Zanella, Sara Boccalini, Benedetta Bonito, Marco Del Riccio, Emilia Tiscione, Paolo Bonanni, Working Group DHS, Working Group AOUMeyer, Working Group AUSLTC, Angela Bechini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
Series:Vaccines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/8/3/512
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spelling doaj-e0357623ad34411f9c64afba62826f7f2020-11-25T03:37:42ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2020-09-01851251210.3390/vaccines8030512Increasing Measles Seroprevalence in a Sample of Pediatric and Adolescent Population of Tuscany (Italy): A Vaccination Campaign SuccessBeatrice Zanella0Sara Boccalini1Benedetta Bonito2Marco Del Riccio3Emilia Tiscione4Paolo Bonanni5Working Group DHS6Working Group AOUMeyer7Working Group AUSLTC8Angela Bechini9Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, ItalyMedical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, ItalyMedical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, ItalyMeyer Children’s Hospital, 50139 Florence, ItalyAUSL Toscana Centro, 50122 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, ItalyBackground: Despite the National Plan for the Elimination of Measles and congenital Rubella (NPEMcR), in 2017, a measles outbreak occurred in Italy, due to sub-optimal vaccination coverage (<95%) for many years. Since that year, the anti-measles vaccination became compulsory in minors (0–16 years) for school attendance. The aim of our study was to assess the immunity/susceptibility against measles in a representative sample of pediatric and adolescent (1–18 years) residents of the province of Florence (Tuscany, Italy), and to compare these results with two previous surveys (2003 and 2005–2006). <i>Methods:</i> The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied for a qualitative measurement of anti-measles antibodies on 165 sera. The anamnestic and vaccination status was also collected. <i>Results</i>: No measles notification was reported. The overall seropositivity was 88.5%; mostly in the 5–9 years old subjects (97.9%). Among the 152 vaccinated, 92.1% were positive. The seropositivity persisted after many years since the last dose of vaccine and tended to be more long-lasting in those who had received two or three doses. The susceptibility towards measles decreased over time, reaching a lower value in the current survey (8.5%) than in 2003 (30.8%) and in 2005–2006 (25.5%). <i>Conclusions</i>: This study confirmed the anti-measles vaccination campaign success, which allowed for the increase in vaccination coverage and immunity levels against measles in the Florentine pediatric and adolescent population following the NPEMcR implementation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/8/3/512measleseliminationvaccinationpediatricadolescenceseroprevalence
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Beatrice Zanella
Sara Boccalini
Benedetta Bonito
Marco Del Riccio
Emilia Tiscione
Paolo Bonanni
Working Group DHS
Working Group AOUMeyer
Working Group AUSLTC
Angela Bechini
spellingShingle Beatrice Zanella
Sara Boccalini
Benedetta Bonito
Marco Del Riccio
Emilia Tiscione
Paolo Bonanni
Working Group DHS
Working Group AOUMeyer
Working Group AUSLTC
Angela Bechini
Increasing Measles Seroprevalence in a Sample of Pediatric and Adolescent Population of Tuscany (Italy): A Vaccination Campaign Success
Vaccines
measles
elimination
vaccination
pediatric
adolescence
seroprevalence
author_facet Beatrice Zanella
Sara Boccalini
Benedetta Bonito
Marco Del Riccio
Emilia Tiscione
Paolo Bonanni
Working Group DHS
Working Group AOUMeyer
Working Group AUSLTC
Angela Bechini
author_sort Beatrice Zanella
title Increasing Measles Seroprevalence in a Sample of Pediatric and Adolescent Population of Tuscany (Italy): A Vaccination Campaign Success
title_short Increasing Measles Seroprevalence in a Sample of Pediatric and Adolescent Population of Tuscany (Italy): A Vaccination Campaign Success
title_full Increasing Measles Seroprevalence in a Sample of Pediatric and Adolescent Population of Tuscany (Italy): A Vaccination Campaign Success
title_fullStr Increasing Measles Seroprevalence in a Sample of Pediatric and Adolescent Population of Tuscany (Italy): A Vaccination Campaign Success
title_full_unstemmed Increasing Measles Seroprevalence in a Sample of Pediatric and Adolescent Population of Tuscany (Italy): A Vaccination Campaign Success
title_sort increasing measles seroprevalence in a sample of pediatric and adolescent population of tuscany (italy): a vaccination campaign success
publisher MDPI AG
series Vaccines
issn 2076-393X
publishDate 2020-09-01
description Background: Despite the National Plan for the Elimination of Measles and congenital Rubella (NPEMcR), in 2017, a measles outbreak occurred in Italy, due to sub-optimal vaccination coverage (<95%) for many years. Since that year, the anti-measles vaccination became compulsory in minors (0–16 years) for school attendance. The aim of our study was to assess the immunity/susceptibility against measles in a representative sample of pediatric and adolescent (1–18 years) residents of the province of Florence (Tuscany, Italy), and to compare these results with two previous surveys (2003 and 2005–2006). <i>Methods:</i> The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied for a qualitative measurement of anti-measles antibodies on 165 sera. The anamnestic and vaccination status was also collected. <i>Results</i>: No measles notification was reported. The overall seropositivity was 88.5%; mostly in the 5–9 years old subjects (97.9%). Among the 152 vaccinated, 92.1% were positive. The seropositivity persisted after many years since the last dose of vaccine and tended to be more long-lasting in those who had received two or three doses. The susceptibility towards measles decreased over time, reaching a lower value in the current survey (8.5%) than in 2003 (30.8%) and in 2005–2006 (25.5%). <i>Conclusions</i>: This study confirmed the anti-measles vaccination campaign success, which allowed for the increase in vaccination coverage and immunity levels against measles in the Florentine pediatric and adolescent population following the NPEMcR implementation.
topic measles
elimination
vaccination
pediatric
adolescence
seroprevalence
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/8/3/512
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