title: Seroprevalence of vaccine-preventable diseases among young children in the United Arab Emirates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), many vaccine-preventable diseases are notifiable and are often reported despite high estimated immunization coverage. The serological assessment of immunity against these infections (serosurveillance) complements disease surveillance (notification). This study aimed to assess the yet unmeasured serological immunities to nine vaccine-preventable infections among vaccinated Emirati children.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study involved children who attended the Well-Child Care Programme of the Ambulatory Healthcare Services (Al-Ain, UAE) between July 2014 and September 2015. Serological testing was performed in 227 Emirati children (49% females); subjects were aged (mean±standard deviation) 45±14 months (median 43, range 23-71 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The seroprevalence rates varied markedly among the studied vaccine-preventable diseases, ranging from 39.2% (pertussis) to 98.3% (rubella). Other high seroprevalence rates were noted for measles (98.2%) and poliovirus (92%). The seroprevalence rate for mumps was 82.8%, for varicella was 68.3%, for diphtheria was 86.4%, for tetanus was 89.9%, and for Haemophilus influenzae type B was 84.1%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large number of the studied children had low seroprevalence rates against pertussis, varicella, and mumps. Studies are needed to explore whether modifying the national immunization programme could improve these low seroprevalence estimates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 17666, Al Ain, UAE.
authors.forename: Lolowa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Al-Mekaini
authors.affiliation: Ambulatory Healthcare Services, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), Abu Dhabi, UAE.
authors.forename: Salwa M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.affiliation: Ambulatory Healthcare Services, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), Abu Dhabi, UAE.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Al-Jabri
authors.affiliation: Ambulatory Healthcare Services, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), Abu Dhabi, UAE.
authors.forename: Maher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.affiliation: Ambulatory Healthcare Services, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), Abu Dhabi, UAE.
authors.forename: Huda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alshamsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 17666, Al Ain, UAE.
authors.forename: Hassib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Narchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 17666, Al Ain, UAE.
authors.forename: Abdul-Kader
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Souid
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 17666, Al Ain, UAE. Electronic address: alsuwaidia@uaeu.ac.ae.
authors.forename: Ahmed R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Alsuwaidi
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D019741:Haemophilus influenzae type b / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D009107:Mumps / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013742:Tetanus / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D014479:United Arab Emirates; D014611:Vaccination; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014612:Vaccines
keywords: Immunity; Mumps; Pertussis; Seroprevalence; Varicella