Measles and rubella microarray array patches to increase vaccination coverage and achieve measles and rubella elimination in Africa.

Lauren Christine Richardson,William John Moss

doi:10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.35.1.19753

Abstract

The African Region is committed to measles elimination by 2020 but coverage with the first dose of measles-containing vaccine was only 70% in 2017. Several obstacles to achieving high coverage with measles and rubella vaccines exist, some of which could be overcome with new vaccine delivery technologies. Microarray array patches (MAPs) are single-dose devices used for transcutaneous administration of molecules, including inactivated or attenuated vaccines, that penetrate the outer stratum corneum of the skin, delivering antigens to the epidermis or dermis. MAPs to deliver measles and rubella vaccines have the potential to be a transformative technology to achieve elimination goals in the African Region. MAPs for measles and rubella vaccination have been shown to be safe, immunogenic and thermostable in preclinical studies but results of clinical studies in humans have not yet been published. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge of measles and rubella MAPs, their potential advantages for immunization programs in the African Region, and some of the challenges that must be overcome before measles and rubella MAPs are available for widespread use.

Highlights

Global measles vaccination coverage with the first dose of measlescontaining vaccine (MCV1) has stagnated at about 85% for the past decade and global goals for reductions in measles incidence and mortality were not met [1]
This review summarizes the current state of knowledge of measles and rubella Microarray array patches (MAPs), their potential advantages for immunization programs in the African Region, and some of the challenges that must be overcome before measles and rubella MAPs are available for widespread use
MAPs to deliver measles and rubella vaccines could play a critical role in achieving elimination goals in the African Region

Summary

Introduction

Global measles vaccination coverage with the first dose of measlescontaining vaccine (MCV1) has stagnated at about 85% for the past decade and global goals for reductions in measles incidence and mortality were not met [1]. In 2011, the WHO African Region established a goal to eliminate measles by 2020 [3], but MCV1 coverage in 2017 was only 70% [2], far lower than what is needed for elimination. Despite regional differences in the underlying causes, the fundamental problem is the same across the globe: failure to achieve high coverage (> 95%) with two doses of measles vaccine. The tools to achieve high measles vaccine coverage have not changed much over the past several decades and better vaccine delivery platforms would be beneficial [4]. The Pan African Medical Journal. 2020;35 (Supp 1):3 | Lauren Christine Richardson et al

Methods

Findings

Conclusion