TY - JOUR
T1 - Seroprevalence of vaccine-preventable diseases among young children in the United Arab Emirates
AU - Al-Mekaini, Lolowa A.
AU - Kamal, Salwa M.
AU - Al-Jabri, Omer
AU - Soliman, Maher
AU - Alshamsi, Huda
AU - Narchi, Hassib
AU - Souid, Abdul Kader
AU - Alsuwaidi, Ahmed R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 The Authors
PY - 2016/9/1
Y1 - 2016/9/1
N2 - Objectives 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.
AB - Objectives 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.
KW - Immunity
KW - Mumps
KW - Pertussis
KW - Seroprevalence
KW - Varicella
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.07.012
DO - 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.07.012
M3 - Article
C2 - 27457919
AN - SCOPUS:84983543583
SN - 1201-9712
VL - 50
SP - 67
EP - 71
JO - International Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - International Journal of Infectious Diseases
ER -