Abstract
Introduction: Measles, mumps, and rubella incidence decreased drastically following vaccination programs’ implementation. However, measles and mumps’ resurgence was recently reported, outbreaks still occur, and challenges remain to control these diseases. Areas covered: This qualitative narrative review provides an objective appraisal of the literature regarding current challenges in controlling measles, mumps, rubella infections, and interventions to address them. Expert opinion: While vaccines against measles, mumps, and rubella (including trivalent vaccines) are widely used and effective, challenges to control these diseases are mainly related to insufficient immunization coverage and changing vaccination needs owing to new global environment (e.g. traveling, migration, population density). By understanding disease transmission peculiarities by setting, initiatives are needed to optimize vaccination policies and increase vaccination coverage, which was further negatively impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. Also, awareness of the potential severity of infections and the role of vaccines should increase. Reminder systems, vaccination of disadvantaged, high-risk and difficult-to-reach populations, accessibility of vaccination, healthcare infrastructure, and vaccination services management should improve. Outbreak preparedness should be strengthened, including implementation of high-quality surveillance systems to monitor epidemiology. While the main focus should be on these public health initiatives to increase vaccination coverage, slightly more benefits could come from evolution of current vaccines.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 811-826 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Expert Review of Vaccines |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2021 |
Funding
F. Kauffmann, M. O. C. Ota, V. Vetter, and G. Casabona are employees of the GSK group of companies and hold shares in the GSK group of companies. F. Meurice was employed by the GSK group of companies during the manuscript development and holds shares in the GSK group of companies. C. Heffernan works for Public Health England and NHS England advising on how to improve vaccination uptake and coverage of national immunization programs in London. She received no financial compensation from GSK. None of the authors have any non-financial interest to declare. Medical writing support, provided by Claire Verbelen (Modis), and manuscript development and editorial support, provided by Julie Mellery (Modis), were utilized in the production of this manuscript and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
Keywords
- Coverage
- elimination
- measles
- MMR uptake
- MMR vaccine
- mumps
- prevention
- protection
- rubella
- vaccine effectiveness
