Summary
In recent years, there has been a remarkable increase in measles cases among preschool and secondary school children in Turkey, as in many other countries. The seroconversion and coverage rates of measles vaccine should therefore be evaluated in order to obtain data that could be used to determine the vaccination policy for Turkey. Measles immunity status was studied by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) test determining the anti-measles IgG antibody levels. Measles specific IgG antibodies were found to be positive in 77.88% of the entire study group of 800 children aged 11 months to 12 years, while 21.25% had negative sera. Seven (0.87%) subjects had borderline results. The results of this study indicate the need to administer a second dose of measles vaccine, preferably at 18 months of age concomitant with other vaccines. This vaccination policy, together with an increase in the extent of immunization coverage, may help to achieve the World Health Organization's (WHO) target of the complete eradication of measles.
Zusammenfassung
Masernfälle haben in den letzten Jahren bei Vorschul- und Schulkindern in der Türkei erheblich zugenommen. Diese Beobachtung wurde auch in anderen Ländern gemacht. Es ist daher nötig, Untersuchungen zur Serokonversion und Durchimpfung mit Masernimpfstoff durchzuführen, um Daten zu haben, die als Grundlage für die Impfstrategien in der Türkei verwendet werden können. Der Masern-Immunstatus wurde mittels enzymgebundenem Immunsorbent-Assay (ELISA) bestimmt. Die Messung der anti-Masern IgG-Antikörperspiegel ergab einen positiven Befund bei 77,88% der gesamten Gruppe von 800 Kindern im Alter von 11 Monaten bis 12 Jahren. 21,25% der Seren wurden als negativ beurteilt. Sieben Kinder (0,87%) hatten grenzwertige Ergebnisse. Die Daten der Studie sprechen dafür, vorzugsweise im Alter von 18 Monaten eine zweite Dosis Masernimpfstoff zu applizieren, wenn auch andere Impfungen erfolgen. Mit dieser Impfstrategie und einer besseren Durchimpfung könnte das Ziel der Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO), Masern völlig auszurotten, leichter erreicht werden.
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Kuyucu, N., Dogru, Ü. & Akar, N. Antibody response to measles vaccination in Turkish children. Infection 24, 156–158 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01713326
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01713326