Report on public health actions and vaccination strategies to monitor measles epidemic in Local Health Unit A in Rome, Italy

Abstract

Background: Between May 2010 and october 2011 the unit of Preventive Medicine for the
developmental ages of district IV, Health unit aSL rM/a, received 136 measles case notifications from
the unit of Epidemiology and Prophylaxis of Infectious diseases.
MEtHodS: In accordance with the infectious diseases monitoring protocol, we introduced a series of
preventive measures, such as monitoring subjects in contact with measles-infected patients, recommend-
ing the administration of two Measles Mumps and rubella (MMr) doses four weeks apart, and informing
paediatricians, families and school teachers about the measles epidemic.
rESuLtS: all the activities above led to an increased number of MMr doses administered and a significant
improvement of measles immunization coverage among residents of the district IV health unit of rome.
concerning MMr 1, in a sample cohort consisting of children ≤24 months, the immunization coverage
increased from 77% on the 31/12/09 to 88% on the 31/12/11. Instead, for MMr 2, in a cohort of children
≤6 years, the same ratio improved from 51% on the 31/12/09 to 65% on the 31/12/11.
dIScuSSIon: the results indicate a material increase in the immunization coverage once our public health
actions and vaccination strategies had been implemented among young residents of district IV aSL rM/a.