Historical analysis of birth cohorts not vaccinated against rubella prior to national rubella vaccination campaign, Brazil

Rubella antibodies in vertically and horizontally HIV-infected young adults vaccinated early in life and response to a booster dose in those with seronegative results

BACKGROUND

Very limited data are available on the persistence of rubella antibodies in vertically HIV-infected individuals who were vaccinated early in life.

METHODS

Prospective, cohort study on 4 groups of patients: 96 vertically HIV-1-infected individuals (v-HIV), 69 horizontally HIV-1-infected individuals (h-HIV), 93 healthy controls previously vaccinated for rubella (vac-CON) and 20 healthy controls with history of rubella disease (dis-CON). A blood sample was collected and rubella antibodies were analyzed by ELISA. Rubella antibodies above 10 IU/mL were considered protective. Individuals with seronegative results were offered an extra MMR vaccine dose and were tested at least 30 days afterwards.

RESULTS

Time since previous rubella vaccination was similar in v-HIV, h-HIV and vac-CON (16, 11 and 11 years; p = 0.428). v-HIV and h-HIV were also comparable regarding median CD4 T cells (613 and 614 cells/mm³; p = 0.599) and percentage on ART (93.8% and 98.6%; p = 0.135) at study entry. v-HIV had less individuals on virological suppression (63.5%) compared to 85.5% in h-HIV (p < 0.001). Rubella seropositivity and antibodies were significantly lower in v-HIV compared to h-HIV (32.3% vs 65.5%, 4.3 IU/mL vs 21.1 IU/mL; p < 0.001). Time interval between the last rubella vaccine dose and study entry was associated with an increase of rubella seronegativity, with a 7% higher chance of seronegativity for each one-year increase. After an extra MMR dose, 40 out of 48 (83.3%) seronegative individuals responded, with no significant difference among groups considering rubella seropositivity and antibody levels.

CONCLUSION

As vertically HIV-infected individuals reach adolescence and adulthood, assessment of vaccine antibodies can identify those who might benefit from an extra vaccine dose.

Triangulation of measles vaccination data in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Objective

To illustrate how data triangulation involving routine data sources can optimize data usage and provide insights into vaccine programme effectiveness by considering measles vaccination and disease incidence data in England.

Methods

We obtained data on measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage in birth cohorts from 1985 to 2016 from child health records and adjusted for under-ascertainment and catch-up campaigns. We assumed that the population had no natural immunity and that vaccine effectiveness was 95% for one dose and 99.75% for two doses. Vaccinations done outside the routine schedule and in people who entered England after the age of immunization were identified from primary care records. Measles susceptibility was defined as the percentage of individuals who were not immune despite all vaccination activities. We triangulated measles susceptibility and incidence data.

Findings

Median susceptibility was 4.6% (range: 1.2–9.2). Among cohorts eligible for two MMR vaccine doses, those born between 1998 and 2004 were most susceptible. Measles incidence was highest in these cohorts. Data from primary care and child health records were comparable for cohorts after 2000, suggesting that little supplementary vaccination took place. For cohorts before 2000, primary care data quality was insufficient for accurately estimating coverage.

Conclusion

Triangulating routine data on measles vaccination coverage and disease surveillance provided new insights into population immunity and helped identify vulnerable groups, which was useful for prioritizing public health actions to close gaps in immunity. This approach could be applied in any country that routinely records vaccine coverage and disease incidence.

Rubella Seropositivity in Pregnant Women After Vaccination Campaign in Brazil's Federal District

Rubella is an acute viral disease that usually does not generate sequels; however, in pregnant women the infection can cause serious abnormalities to fetuses, which are collectively called congenital rubella syndrome. In Brazil, population immunization was started in 1992, but few epidemiological studies have been conducted to assess vaccination coverage and seroconversion since then. The aim of this work is to evaluate the seropositivity of pregnant women to rubella virus after vaccination campaign was carried out in 2008. Serological tests for rubella diagnosis were performed in 87 pregnant women who attended the University of Brasilia Hospital, Federal District, Brazil. Antirubella IgG antibodies were detected in 83 out of 87 pregnant women (95.4%), with an age-independent seroprevalence. Only one woman was positive in IgM serological tests. Our data suggest high levels of vaccination coverage and antirubella immunization in the Brazil Federal District population.

Vacinação contra rubéola em mulheres em idade reprodutiva no Município de Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil

As mulheres em idade reprodutiva são a população de maior interesse para a prevenção da síndrome da rubéola congênita. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a prevalência de vacinação contra rubéola em mulheres e identificar fatores associados e motivos da não adesão. Trata-se de estudo transversal de base populacional, realizado em Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil, em 2008/2009, com amostra por conglomerados e em dois estágios. Das 778 mulheres de 10 a 49 anos, 83,8% (IC95%: 79,6-88,0) referiram vacinação em algum momento da vida. Faixa etária (30-39 anos), renda familiar per capita superior a três salários mínimos e a orientação de profissional de saúde estiveram positivamente associadas à vacinação contra a rubéola. Os principais motivos da não adesão foram a falta de orientação do profissional de saúde sobre sua importância (48,5%) e não considerá-la necessária (18,9%). A recomendação do profissional de saúde foi o fator mais fortemente associado à adesão das mulheres à vacinação. Nesse sentido, sua indicação pelas equipes de saúde pode ampliar o conhecimento sobre sua importância e seus benefícios.