Abstract
During a mass immunisation campaign following an outbreak of measles in a Roma community settled in the town of Pulawy, Poland, we performed an estimation of the size of this Roma population and an assessment of its vaccination uptake. We obtained a list of Roma residing in Pulawy from the local municipality and estimated using a simple capture-recapture formula that Pulawy had 377 Roma residents (43% under 20 years old), which was 27% more than the 295 registered at the municipality. During the vaccination campaign, demographic information was recorded that could be linked to information from the municipality list as well as to prior immunisation status. Among the people whose data were recorded during the vaccination campaign, 14% were not registered at the primary healthcare centres, and were therefore deprived of access to healthcare. Among 102 screened subjects under the age of 20 years, 51% were vaccinated according to schedule. Vaccine uptake for the first dose of measles-containing vaccine was 56% (54/96) and for the second dose 37% (18/49). The present study indicates the need to get a better demographic overview of Roma communities living in Poland and to understand the barriers limiting their access to healthcare and social services. Organisation of catch-up immunisations of this vulnerable population is necessary.
Highlights
From 2003 to 2005, Poland was approaching the WorldHealth Organisation’s measles elimination target, with the recorded incidence of locally-acquired cases below one per million inhabitants
In other European countries, an increase in measles incidence was observed in those years, mainly due to ongoing transmission among different vulnerable populations [2,3,4]
Since 1975 the first dose of monovalent measles vaccine had been recommended at the age of 13-15 months, and in 1991 a recommendation for the second dose at the age of six years was introduced
Summary
From 2003 to 2005, Poland was approaching the WorldHealth Organisation’s measles elimination target, with the recorded incidence of locally-acquired cases below one per million inhabitants. In 2008 and 2009, several measles outbreaks were notified in Poland, many of which were related to cases imported from United. In other European countries, an increase in measles incidence was observed in those years, mainly due to ongoing transmission among different vulnerable populations [2,3,4]. Vaccination against measles is mandatory and free of charge in Poland. Since 1975 the first dose of monovalent measles vaccine had been recommended at the age of 13-15 months, and in 1991 a recommendation for the second dose at the age of six years was introduced. In 2008, the national vaccination coverage for measles for three year old children with the first dose was 98% and for 11 yearolds with the second dose 97% [5]. The vaccination coverage in high-risk groups or in any sub-populations in Poland is not routinely assessed
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