PROBLEMS TOWARDS MEASLES ELIMINATION IN RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Abstract

Introduction of live measles vaccines into daily practice resulted in a pronounced reduction of measles morbidity in many countries, that allowed WHO to develop the measles eradication program. Russian Federation has commenced realization of the eradication program for local measles cases in the country (measles elimination) in 2002 and had achieved significant success by 2007. For 4 years (2007 - 2010) the parameter of measles morbidity in Russian Federation did not exceed the WHO measles elimination criteria - no more than 1 measles case per 1 million population. However, the situation for measles began to deteriorate from 2011, reflecting the growth of measles morbidity in many regions of the world. The main reason for measles morbidity growth was accumulation of a contingent of individuals not immunized against measles against the background of internal and external population migration. Underthe condition of constant maintenance of a high vaccination coverage of the population (above 95%) on the whole territory of Russia, the objective of measles elimination in the country can be successively met.