Australian Measles Control Campaign

A public health initiative to eliminate measles in Australia

The Australian Measles Control Campaign was a significant public health initiative launched in 1998 by the Government of Australia with the primary goal of eliminating measles from the country. This campaign was a response to the resurgence of measles cases in the 1990s and aimed to increase immunization coverage among children and young adults.

Background

Graph showing measles cases in Australia from 1991 to 2009

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and death. Despite the availability of an effective vaccine, measles outbreaks continued to occur in Australia during the 1990s, primarily due to insufficient vaccination coverage.

In the early 1990s, Australia experienced several measles outbreaks, which highlighted gaps in the immunization program. The World Health Organization (WHO) had set a goal to eliminate measles globally, and Australia committed to this goal by launching the Measles Control Campaign.

Objectives

The main objectives of the Australian Measles Control Campaign were:

• To increase the coverage of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) among children and young adults.
• To conduct a nationwide vaccination campaign targeting children aged 5 to 12 years.
• To establish a robust surveillance system for measles to monitor and respond to outbreaks effectively.
• To raise public awareness about the importance of measles vaccination.

Implementation

The campaign was implemented in several phases:

Vaccination Campaign

The core component of the campaign was a mass vaccination program targeting school-aged children. The government provided free MMR vaccines to children aged 5 to 12 years, aiming to achieve at least 95% coverage in this age group. Schools played a crucial role in facilitating the vaccination process, with health professionals visiting schools to administer the vaccines.

Public Awareness

A comprehensive public awareness campaign was launched to educate parents and guardians about the importance of measles vaccination. This included distributing informational materials, running advertisements on television and radio, and engaging with community leaders to promote vaccination.

Surveillance and Monitoring

The campaign also focused on strengthening the surveillance of measles cases. Health authorities improved the reporting systems to ensure timely detection and response to measles outbreaks. This involved training healthcare providers to recognize and report measles cases promptly.

Outcomes

The Australian Measles Control Campaign was largely successful in achieving its objectives. By the early 2000s, measles incidence in Australia had significantly decreased, and the country was on track to eliminate endemic measles transmission. The campaign also contributed to increased public awareness about the importance of vaccination, which had a positive impact on the overall immunization rates for other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Legacy

The success of the Australian Measles Control Campaign set a precedent for future public health initiatives in Australia. It demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated vaccination campaigns and the importance of maintaining high immunization coverage to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Related pages

• Measles
• Vaccination
• Public health
• World Health Organization