The Australian Measles Control Campaign was initiated in August 1998 as part of the

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of h ...

's global

measles eradication Eradication is the reduction of an infectious disease's prevalence in the global host population to zero. Two infectious diseases have successfully been eradicated: smallpox in humans, and rinderpest in ruminants. There are four ongoing progra ...

program, and in response to major epidemics in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

throughout 1994/95, together with a report predicting another impending measles epidemic in Australia. The campaign vaccinated 1.78 million children, making it the largest national vaccination campaign conducted in Australia since the introduction of

poliomyelitis Poliomyelitis, commonly shortened to polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Approximately 70% of cases are asymptomatic; mild symptoms which can occur include sore throat and fever; in a proportion of cases more severe sym ...

vaccination in 1956. The campaign was promoted using the slogan "Let's Work Together to Beat Measles". (Available via Internet Archive of Australia Department of Health webpage) __TOC__

The campaign

Following the World Health Organization's adoption of a 2010 target date for Global Measles eradication and the notation that a single dose vaccination strategy was ineffective, the Federal Health Department began investigating the options for a measles elimination campaign in Australia. In 1996 and 1997, serosurveys were conducted in

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

and

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

to assess the current levels of measles immunity. Results indicated that there were "probably enough susceptible children in the South Australian population to support a measles epidemic". In November 1997, a workshop of experts was formed to discuss the logistical, funding and surveillance issues of a potential measles elimination campaign. The group concluded that the second dose of MMR should be brought forward from 12 years to 4 years (in line with WHO recommendations), and that a school-based campaign be implemented. Three groups would be targeted for vaccination: * Primary School children (5–12 yrs): This group would be offered vaccination at school-based clinics, to be provided by two

Registered Nurse A registered nurse (RN) is a nurse who has graduated or successfully passed a nursing program from a recognized nursing school and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province or similar government-authorized licensing body to o ...

s per school. * Pre-school children (1–4 yrs): Letters would be sent to the parents of all children who were overdue for their first dose of MMR, encouraging them to attend their GP for vaccination. * High-School children (12–18 yrs): A letter would be sent to all parents encouraging them to ensure their children had received two doses of MMR.

Objectives

* Cease measles-related morbidity and mortality, by interrupting indigenous transmission of measles * Prevent reintroduction of measles until global eradication is achieved, by maintaining uniformly low levels of population susceptibility

Statistics

* 1.7 million primary-school aged children vaccinated, representing 96% of children in this age group. * 800,000 pre-school children vaccinated. * 89 total adverse events ''(33% of which were

fainting Syncope, commonly known as fainting, or passing out, is a loss of consciousness and muscle strength characterized by a fast onset, short duration, and spontaneous recovery. It is caused by a decrease in blood flow to the brain, typically from ...

)'' representing 5.24 total adverse events per 100,000 doses. * Prevented an estimated 17,500 cases of measles. * Prevented an estimated 8 measles-related fatalities. * Total cost of the campaign was A$30,841,356.

Results

* Increase in measles immunity for 1–18 year-olds from 85% to 90%, and 6–12 year-olds (the target age group) from 84% to 96% (Assessed by

serosurvey Serology is the scientific study of serum and other body fluids. In practice, the term usually refers to the diagnostic identification of antibodies in the serum. Such antibodies are typically formed in response to an infection (against a given mi ...

). * Increase in

Rubella Rubella, also known as German measles or three-day measles, is an infection caused by the rubella virus. This disease is often mild, with half of people not realizing that they are infected. A rash may start around two weeks after exposure and ...

immunity in 1–18 year-olds from 83% to 91% (assessed by

). * 96% fall in reported measles cases after five years, from 836 in 1997 to 32 in 2001. *

Endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

measles declared eradicated from Australia in February 2009.

References

{{reflist Vaccination in Australia Vaccination-related organizations Measles Health campaigns