title: Supplementary immunization activities to achieve measles elimination: experience of the European Region.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) using measles-containing vaccine (MCV) have had a substantial impact on reducing mortality associated with measles worldwide.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess impact of SIAs on measles incidence in the World Health Organization European Region and their role at the final stages of measles elimination efforts in Europe, we reviewed information on SIAs, measles surveillance, and routine vaccination coverage during 2000-2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 2000-2009, >57 million persons received MCV through SIAs in 16 countries. The Region primarily focused on catch-up campaigns with wider target age groups than in other regions and subsequently relied on routine vaccination rather than periodic follow-up SIAs for the second MCV dose. In addition, the concept of SIAs has been expanded from short-term (<30 days) mass campaigns implemented in other regions to incorporate vaccination efforts over longer periods and outbreak response vaccination. In 2009, 14 of 16 countries that conducted SIAs reported no measles cases or <1 case per 1,000,000 population, reflecting the post-SIA decrease in incidence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SIAs have made a substantial contribution to the success of measles elimination efforts and will likely remain an important strategy for interrupting measles virus transmission in the European Region, although specific approaches will vary by country.
authors.affiliation: Global Immunization Division, National Center for Immunization and Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. nck7@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khetsuriani
authors.forename: Sergei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deshevoi
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spika
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Nedret
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Emiroglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine