Current Strategy for Urban Measles Control: An Evaluation

Kenrad E. Nelson, Charles A. Kallick, Lewis Resnick, Sonia Kallick, Samuel P. Gotoff, Stuart Levin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reported measles attack rates are substantially less since licensure of vaccine. Nevertheless, measles continues to be an important cause of morbidity among inner-city populations. In an urban epidemic that occurred after vaccine licensure, the deaths, encephalitis cases, and complication rates among hospitalized patients were similar to those in a prevaccine epidemic. In the earlier and later epidemics, respectively, 23.2% and 30.1% of hospitalized patients were less than 1 year old. In the later epidemic, attack rates were much greater in lower socioeconomic areas than in higher ones. Vaccine failure did not contribute greatly to the later epidemic. Childhood measles vaccination should be given high priority. As long as measles risk remains high, vaccination appears indicated for infants 6 to 9 months old from crowded, lower-income urban areas. These infants will need booster doses later to ensure immunity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)780-783
Number of pages4
JournalJAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
Volume227
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 18 1974
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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