key: cord-0015679-qfp1p9qr
authors: Wariri, Oghenebrume; Nkereuwem, Esin; Erondu, Ngozi A; Edem, Bassey; Nkereuwem, Oluwatosin O; Idoko, Olubukola T; Agogo, Emmanuel; Enegela, Joseph E; Sesay, Tom; Conde, Iya Saidou; Kaucley, Landry; Awuah, Anthony Afum-Adjei; Abdullahi, Sule; Luce, Richard Ray; Banda, Richard; Nomhwange, Terna; Kampmann, Beate
title: A scorecard of progress towards measles elimination in 15 west African countries, 2001–19: a retrospective, multicountry analysis of national immunisation coverage and surveillance data
date: 2021-02-16
journal: Lancet Glob Health
DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(20)30481-2
sha: de0ef576d4240f3ed58eec2825fed2aee8ef0786
doc_id: 15679
cord_uid: qfp1p9qr

BACKGROUND: The WHO Regional Office for the Africa Regional Immunization Technical Advisory Group, in 2011, adopted the measles control and elimination goals for all countries of the African region to achieve in 2015 and 2020 respectively. Our aim was to track the current status of progress towards measles control and elimination milestones across 15 west African countries between 2001 and 2019. METHODS: We did a retrospective multicountry series analysis of national immunisation coverage and case surveillance data from Jan 1, 2001, to Dec 31, 2019. Our analysis focused on the 15 west African countries that constitute the Economic Community of West African States. We tracked progress in the coverage of measles-containing vaccines (MCVs), measles supplementary immunisation activities, and measles incidence rates. We developed a country-level measles summary scorecard using eight indicators to track progress towards measles elimination as of the end of 2019. The summary indicators were tracked against measles control and elimination milestones. FINDINGS: The weighted average regional first-dose MCV coverage in 2019 was 66% compared with 45% in 2001. 73% (11 of 15) of the west African countries had introduced second-dose MCV as of December, 2019. An estimated 4 588 040 children (aged 12–23 months) did not receive first-dose MCV in 2019, the majority (71%) of whom lived in Nigeria. Based on the scorecard, 12 (80%) countries are off-track to achieving measles elimination milestones; however, Cape Verde, The Gambia, and Ghana have made substantial progress. INTERPRETATION: Measles will continue to be endemic in west Africa after 2020. The regional measles incidence rate in 2019 was 33 times the 2020 elimination target of less than 1 case per million population. However, some hope exists as countries can look at the efforts made by Cape Verde, The Gambia, and Ghana and learn from them. FUNDING: None.

. 

Supplementary 

Supplementary 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017, except 

Supplementary Total population [x1000] 11,751 12,189 12,647 13,125 13,624 14,143 14,685 15,250 15,843 16,464 17,114 17,795 18,504 19,240 20,001 20,788 21,602 22,442 125,394 128,596 131,900 135,320 138,865 142,538 146,339 150,269 154,324 158,503 162,805 167,228 171,765 176,404 181,137 185,960 190,873 195,874 

Total population, surviving infant population, MCV2 coverage and target population reached by SIAs in Nigeria

Total population and surviving infant figures are based on the United Nations (UN) World Population Prospects 2019. MCV2 and SIAs estimates are based on WUENIC reported coverage. *Two SIAs each were