Measles Vaccination Coverage Survey in Moba, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo, 2013: Need to Adapt Routine and Mass Vaccination Campaigns to Reach the Unreached

Conclusions We estimated 87% coverage of the MVC in response to the measles outbreak in Moba territory. This coverage may be insufficient to prevent future outbreaks. Lack of a EPI vaccination and lack of accessibility by road were associated with lower MVC campaign coverage. Absence during the MVC and EPI vaccination were the main reasons for non-vaccination. On the basis of these conclusions, we recommend more accessible vaccination sites for each village in order to improve vaccination coverage during EPI and MVCs. We recommend improved social mobilization of the population through extended vaccination time in less accessible villages and to give notice well ahead of vaccination days. Campaign staff must emphasise children and their parents the importance of keeping the vaccination cards. EPI and MVCs need to be adapted accordingly to face these logistical and communication barriers. Hence, the vaccination of hard-to-reach children can contribute to meet the goal of measles elimination in DRC and similar settings.
Source: PLOS Currents Outbreaks - Category: Epidemiology Authors: Source Type: research