Progress in measles mortality reduction in Ethiopia, 2002-2009

Abstract

Background: In 2002, Ethiopia adopted the African regional accelerated measles control strategies to reduce measles mortality. Routine measles vaccination is provided for infants at 9 months of age. A second opportunity for measles vaccination through supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) started in 2002, targeting children aged 6 months-14 years; periodic follow-up SIAs were conducted, targeting children aged 6-59 months from 2005 through 2009.

Methods: The administrative coverage data for routine measles vaccination and the respective World Health Organization-United Nations Children's Fund vaccination coverage estimates, as well as administrative coverage during measles SIAs and the measles case-based surveillance data from 2004 through 2009, were reviewed and analyzed.

Results: The administrative coverage with routine measles vaccination increased from 37% in 2000 to 76% in 2009. The SIAs coverage was 92% for the catch-up SIAs, 88% for the first follow-up SIAs, and 92% for the second follow-up SIAs. Measles case-based surveillance met the targets set for the 2 main performance indicators during 2005-2009.

Conclusions: Following the adoption of the measles control strategies, a reduction in the number of reported measles cases and measles outbreaks was documented. However, measles outbreaks continued to occur in Ethiopia, mainly because of suboptimal measles vaccination coverage.