Mass vaccination campaign following community outbreak of meningococcal disease.
During December 12-29, 1998, seven patients ages 2-18 years were diagnosed with serogroup C meningococcal disease in two neighboring Florida towns with 33,000 residents. We evaluated a mass vaccination campaign implemented to control the outbreak. We maintained vaccination logs and recorded the resources used in the campaign that targeted 2- to 22-year-old residents of the two towns. A total of 13,148 persons received the vaccinations in 3 days. Vaccination coverage in the target population was estimated to be 86% to 99%. Five additional cases of serogroup C meningococcal disease occurred in the community during the year after the campaign began, four in patients who had not received the vaccine. The cost of control efforts was approximately $370,000. Although cases continued to occur, the vaccination campaign appeared to control the outbreak. Rapid implementation, a targeted approach, and high coverage were important to the campaign's success.
Krause
Gérard
G
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. krauseg@rki.de
Blackmore
Carina
C
Wiersma
Steven
S
Lesneski
Cheryll
C
Gauch
Laurey
L
Hopkins
Richard S
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics
D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines