Key result
Among 1,062 measles cases in Tanzanian refugee camps, 21% were <9 months and 21% were ≥16 years old, with 72% of newly arrived children aged 6 months to 15 years being unvaccinated.
Observational (n=1,062)
Yes
The investigation supports wide age group vaccination for measles in refugee camps, suggesting vaccination of refugees >15 years old may be beneficial.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Alerts to measles susceptibility beyond childhood in refugee settings; leaves open need for prospective vaccination studies.
From March 2000 to May 2001, four camps in Kibondo District, Tanzania, hosting refugees from Burundi reported 1062 cases of measles, a highly infectious and potentially lethal disease. Of 1062 case-patients, 225 (21%) were <9 months old, 286 (27%) were 9 months to 5 years, 324 (31%) were 6-15 years, and 227 (21%) were >/=16 years old. No deaths were reported. Although, in accordance with Sphere Project guidelines for humanitarian emergencies, camp policy was to vaccinate all new arrivals aged 6 months to 15 years against measles, 152 (72%) of 210 newly arrived refugees in this age group were unvaccinated; 143 (94%) of the 152 had lived in the camp >/=1 month before rash onset. This investigation supports Sphere Project recommendations for wide age group vaccination and suggests that in some circumstances vaccination of refugees >15 years old may be beneficial.
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Kamugisha et al. (2003) conducted an observational in Measles (n=1,062). Unvaccinated status was evaluated on Measles cases and deaths. Among 1,062 measles cases in Tanzanian refugee camps, 21% were <9 months and 21% were ≥16 years old, with 72% of newly arrived children aged 6 months to 15 years being unvaccinated.
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