MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report

United States. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Since measles vaccine was introduced in the United States in 1963, the reported incidence of measles has decreased 99%, and indigenous measles transmission has been eliminated from most of the country. However, the goal to eliminate measles by October 1982 has not been met. Between 1981 and 1987, a low of 1497 (1983) to a high of 6282 (1986) cases were reported annually (7). Two major types of outbreaks have occurred recently in the United States: those among unvaccinated preschool-aged children, including children younger than the recommended age for routine vaccination (i.e., 15 months), and those among vaccinated school-aged children (2). Large outbreaks among unvaccinated preschoolaged children have occurred in several inner-city areas. In these outbreaks, up to 88% of cases in vaccine-eligible children 16 months to 4 years of age were unvaccinated; as many as 40% of all cases occurred in children <16 months of age. Surveys of immunization levels in areas where these outbreaks occurred indicate that only 49%-65% of 2-year-olds had received measles vaccine (3).

2491907

Journal Article

United States

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Guidelines and Recommendations