title: Haiti 2007-2008 national measles-rubella vaccination campaign: implications for rubella elimination.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A national campaign was conducted in Haiti in 2007-2008 to vaccinate all children and adolescents aged 1-19 years with measles-rubella vaccine in support of achieving the Region of the Americas' 2010 goal of eliminating rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Measles-rubella vaccine was introduced into the country's routine childhood immunization schedule after the campaign.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nationwide, stratified, multistage cluster sample survey of 20859 children was conducted to assess coverage using house-to-house interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Estimated national coverage with measles-rubella vaccine was 79.2% (95% confidence interval, 77.6%-80.7%), ranging from 90.2% in Nord-Ouest Department to 70.0% in Cite Soleil Metropolitan Area. National coverage was lower for children aged 1-5 years (76.7%) than for those aged 6-19 years (80.3%) (P< .001) but similar in rural departments (79.4%) and metropolitan areas (78.6%; P = .61). The reasons most frequently cited for nonparticipation in the campaign were that the child was ill or unavailable (18.6%), did not know vaccinations were important (13.8%), did not know when to go or forgot to go (13.3%), and did not have enough time (12.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The measles-rubella vaccination campaign was critical for raising rubella immunity levels in children and adolescents in Haiti. To remain free of rubella transmission and CRS, Haiti must also achieve and sustain high routine measles-rubella vaccination coverage and maintain high-quality integrated measles-rubella and CRS surveillance, including laboratory-based confirmation for reported rash illnesses. If routine measles-rubella vaccination coverage is suboptimal or if gaps in coverage are identified, additional mass campaigns with measles-rubella vaccine will be necessary.
authors.affiliation: Global Immunization Division, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Jeanette J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Rainey
authors.forename: M Carolina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Danovaro-Holliday
authors.forename: Roc
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Magloire
authors.forename: Gregoire
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kananda
authors.forename: Carla E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Henriette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chamouillet
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lacapere
authors.forename: Kam
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mung
authors.forename: Elizabeth T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Luman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006205:Haiti / Q000453:epidemiology; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D012409:Rubella / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine; D012411:Rubella Vaccine