RESUMO
Según lo establecido por la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS), conseguir una alta cobertura de vacunación es una meta esencial para la Región de las Américas. Es indispensable lograr niveles de cobertura de 95 por ciento o mayores para poder alcanzar los objetivos de la OPS de eliminar el sarampión y la rubéola, controlar las enfermedades prevenibles mediante la vacunación, y hacer perdurar la eliminación de la poliomielitis en territorio americano. Para poder alcanzar esos niveles, es imprescindible que las estadísticas de vacunación sean fiables y que las autoridades sanita- rias midan y monitoreen los niveles de cobertura a lo largo del tiempo. Los métodos elegidos por los directores de los programas de vacunación para calcular la cobertura dependerán de la información que haga falta. En general, los directores del Programa Ampliado de Inmunización (PAI) necesitarán información acerca de la cobertura para poder: 1) determinar la verdadera cobertura en los niveles nacional y local, 2) determinar cuán adecuada es la cobertura en una zona determinada, 3) monitorear las tendencias a lo largo del tiempo, y 4) monitorear las actividades de vacunación mientras se están llevando a cabo. Para lograr lo primero -determinar cuáles son los niveles verdaderos de cobertura-, los administradores tienen dos opciones: a) valerse de los datos acerca de las dosis administradas (es decir, el número de dosis de la vacuna que se ha administrado, dividido por la población que debió recibir una dosis) o b) llevar a cabo una encuesta para determinar la cobertura. Para lograr lo segundo -saber si la cobertura en una zona determinada es adecuada (por ej., mayor de 90 por ciento)-, se puede realizar un muestreo por lotes para garantizar la calidad (MLGC). El MLGC es una metodología de encuesta basada en el uso de muestras pequeñas que permite determinar si la cobertura en una zona determinada es adecuada o no, pero no sirve para estimar el nivel de cobertura. Para el tercer propósito -monitorear las tendencias a lo largo del tiempo-, se pueden usar los datos correspondientes al número de dosis administradas. Para lograr el cuarto propósito -determinar si procede vacunar o llevar a cabo una campaña de vacunación u otra actividad afín-, la "herramienta de monitoreo rápido" creada por la OPS es una magnífica solución. Cada uno de estos métodos posee ventajas y desventajas. Los datos sobre el número de dosis...
Assuntos
Vacinação , Vacinas , Programas de ImunizaçãoRESUMO
The Americas have set a goal of interrupting indigenous transmission of measles using a strategy developed by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). This strategy includes recommendations for vaccination activities to achieve and sustain high immunity in the population and is complemented by sensitive epidemiological surveillance systems developed to monitor illnesses characterized by febrile rash, and to provide effective virological and serological surveillance. A key component in ensuring the success of the programme has been a laboratory network comprising 22 national laboratories including reference centres. Commercially available indirect enzyme immunoassay kits (EIA) for immunoglobulin M (IgM)-class antibodies are currently being used throughout the region. However, because there are few or no true measles cases in the region, the positive predictive value of these diagnostic tests has decreased. False-positive results of IgM tests can also occur as a result of testing suspected measles cases with exanthemata caused by Parvovirus B19, rubella and Human herpesvirus 6, among others. In addition, as countries maintain high levels of vaccination activity and increased surveillance of rash and fever, the notification of febrile rash illness in recently vaccinated people can be anticipated. Thus, managers in the measles elimination programme must be prepared to address the interpretation of a positive result of a laboratory test for measles IgM when clinical and epidemiological data may indicate that the case is not measles. The interpretation of an IgM-positive test under different circumstances and the definition of a vaccine-related rash illness in a setting of greatly reduced, or absent, transmission of measles is discussed.
Assuntos
Programas de Imunização , Técnicas Imunoenzimáticas/normas , Sarampo/diagnóstico , Sarampo/imunologia , Programas Nacionais de Saúde , Anticorpos Antivirais/sangue , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Exantema/etiologia , Humanos , Imunoglobulina M/sangue , Sarampo/prevenção & controle , Sarampo/transmissão , Vacina contra Sarampo/imunologia , América do Norte/epidemiologia , Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde , Vigilância da População , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , América do Sul/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Measles incidence in Bolivia declined after the introduction of campaign strategies in the 1980s. From 1990 to 1993, the peak incidence of measles (59 cases/100,000 population) was in 1992. In 1994, after the goal of interruption of measles transmission was adopted, a national vaccination campaign targeting children <15 years old was conducted and achieved 96% coverage. During 1995-1997, cases declined, although routine coverage was <90% in most years. During 1998-2000, a nationwide epidemic occurred among 2567 case-patients, most of whom were unvaccinated. A national vaccination campaign, with strong supervision, was conducted during November and December 1999 and targeted areas with low coverage. Only 122 cases were confirmed in 2000, with the last confirmed case occurring in October. Crucial to the control of the outbreak were sufficient resources and political support, intensive local planning, door-to-door vaccination with strict supervision, and rapid house-to-house coverage monitoring that improved accountability at the local level and timely and thorough outbreak investigations.
Assuntos
Programas de Imunização/métodos , Vacina contra Sarampo/administração & dosagem , Sarampo/prevenção & controle , Adolescente , Bolívia/epidemiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Humanos , Programas de Imunização/normas , Incidência , Lactente , Sarampo/epidemiologia , Sarampo/transmissão , Vírus do Sarampo , Vigilância da PopulaçãoRESUMO
On 8 March 2000 a case of laboratory-confirmed measles was detected in Haiti. Over the ensuing months, an explosive epidemic occurred that spread to 8 of the 9 departments of Haiti, including the nation's capital, Port au Prince. After peaking in the last half of November 2000, the epidemic began a rapid decline. The date of onset for the last confirmed case was 26 September 2001. During the 18 months of the epidemic, 1149 cases were confirmed. To control the epidemic, various strategies were employed, including vaccination campaigns that used fixed posts and door-to-door activities. Critical factors in the success of these campaigns were thorough training and supervision of field staff; a high-quality door-to-door vaccination strategy; multiple visits to homes; and monitoring of vaccine coverage by household during the course of the campaigns.