Suboptimal MMR2 vaccine coverage in six counties in Norway detected through the national immunisation registry April 2014 to April 2017.

Wednesday, 31st of May 2017

Euro Surveill. 2017 Apr 27;22(17). pii: 30518. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2017.22.17.30518.

Suboptimal MMR2 vaccine coverage in six counties in Norway detected through the national immunisation registry April 2014 to April 2017.

Hagerup-Jenssen M¹ Kongsrud S¹ Riise ØR².

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Abstract

In 2014 Norway became aware of potential low vaccination coverage for the second dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR2) in six of 19 counties. This was detected by comparing the national coverage (NC) for 16-year-olds extracted from the national immunisation registry SYSVAK with the annual status update for elimination of measles and rubella (ASU) reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). The existing method for calculating NC in 2014 did not show MMR2 coverage. ASU reporting on MMR2 was significantly lower than the NC and below the WHO-recommended 95% coverage. SYSVAK is based on the Norwegian personal identification numbers which allows monitoring of vaccinations at aggregated as well as individual level. It is an important tool for active surveillance of the performance of the Norwegian Childhood Immunisation Programme (NCIP). The method for calculating NC was improved in 2015 to reflect MMR2 coverage for 16-year-olds. As a result Norway has improved its real-time surveillance and monitoring of the actual MMR2 coverage also through SYSVAK (the annual publication of NC). Vaccinators receive feedback for follow-up if 15-year-olds are missing MMR2. In 2017 only three counties had an MMR2 coverage below 90%.

This article is copyright of The Authors 2017.