title: Closer to the goal: efforts in measles elimination in Germany 2010.
abstract: Increasing 2-dose vaccination coverage has led to an interruption of endemic measles virus circulation in Germany. However, outbreaks after virus importation still occur and contribute to international transmission chains. Between 2003 and 2009, annual measles incidence ranged between 0.2 and 2.8 per 100,000 population. Immunization gaps have been identified especially in secondary-school students and young adults, which is also reflected by a shift in age distribution of reported measles cases toward older age groups. Stronger political commitment and standardized guidelines for outbreak containment were put in place in Germany in the past years, but the last step toward measles elimination cannot be made until the number of susceptible individuals has been further reduced. In addition to routine childhood vaccination, supplementary immunization activities are needed targeting school students and young adults to close critical immunization gaps. Intensification of public awareness and sound information on vaccinations are necessary to convince skeptics and remind the forgetful.
authors.affiliation: Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Immunization Unit, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany. siedlera@rki.de
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siedler
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mankertz
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feil
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ahlemeyer
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hornig
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirchner
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beyrer
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dreesman
authors.forename: Sibylle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scharkus
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcic
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Matysiak-Klose
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santibanez
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Wichmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine