Abstract
ABSTRACT.Serological surveillance for vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles and rubella, can provide direct measures of population immunity across age groups, identify gaps in immunity, and document changes in immunity over time. Rigorously conducted, representative household serosurveys provide high-quality estimates with minimal bias. However, they can be logistically challenging, expensive, and have higher refusal rates than vaccine coverage surveys. This article shares lessons learned through implementing nine measles and rubella household serosurveys in five districts in India—the challenges faced, the potential impact on results, and recommendations to facilitate the conduct of serosurveys. Specific lessons learned arose from challenges related to community mobilization owing to lack of cooperation in certain settings and populations, limitations of outdated census information, nonresponse due to refusal or unavailability during survey enumeration and enrollment, data collection issues, and specimen collection and handling issues. Although some experiences are specific to serosurveys in India, these lessons are generalizable to other household surveys, particularly vaccination coverage and serosurveys conducted in low- and middle-income settings.
Highlights
Serological surveillance for vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles and rubella (MR), can provide direct measures of population immunity across age groups, identify gaps in immunity, and document changes in immunity over time.[1,2] Evidence from serological surveillance can be used to guide vaccination programs, including evidence to tailor the age range of vaccination campaigns and identify geographic areas for targeted vaccination activities.[1]
Some experiences are specific to serosurveys in India, these lessons are generalizable to other household surveys, vaccination coverage and serosurveys conducted in low- and middle-income settings
Some experiences are specific to serosurveys in India, these lessons are generalizable to other household surveys, vaccination coverage and serosurveys conducted in low- and middle-income settings for a broad range of pathogens
Summary
Serological surveillance for vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles and rubella (MR), can provide direct measures of population immunity across age groups, identify gaps in immunity, and document changes in immunity over time.[1,2] Evidence from serological surveillance can be used to guide vaccination programs, including evidence to tailor the age range of vaccination campaigns and identify geographic areas for targeted vaccination activities.[1] household surveys with blood collection can be logistically challenging, expensive, and potentially have high refusal rates.[2] Despite the challenges, rigorously conducted, representative household serosurveys generate high-quality seroprevalence data, one of the best estimates of population immunity. High-quality household serosurveys are anchored in the inclusion of a representative sample of the target population, usually by enrolling a probability-based sample.
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