Accelerated rubella control and congenital rubella syndrome prevention strengthen measles eradication: the Costa Rican experience.
In 2000, Costa Rica set a goal for accelerated rubella control and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) prevention in conjunction with its established measles eradication goal. To achieve this goal, a National Plan of Action for the integration of a measles-rubella (MR) vaccination strategy was implemented. The components of the national plan included conducting a national vaccination campaign with a single dose of MR vaccine for men and women aged 15-39 years, establishing routine postpartum MR vaccination of all previously unvaccinated women, maintaining high coverage among children with two doses of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, strengthening the integrated measles and rubella surveillance system, and developing a CRS surveillance system. This report summarizes the results of a successful adult campaign. Targeting MR vaccination appropriately and using the opportunity to strengthen surveillance for rash illness has benefits beyond accelerated rubella control and CRS prevention, including strengthening of the measles eradication program.
Ministry of Health, San Jose, Costa Rica.
Ana
A
Morice
Xinia
X
Carvajal
Mario
M
León
Vicenta
V
Machado
Xiomara
X
Badilla
Susan
S
Reef
Fabio
F
Lievano
Ariel
A
Depetris
Carlos
C
Castillo-Solórzano
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003364:Costa Rica / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012409:Rubella / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012410:Rubella Syndrome, Congenital / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine