Herd Immunity to the Measles, Mumps and Rubella Viruses Among the Belgradian Population in May, 2024
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> In the Republic of Serbia, measles vaccination was first introduced in 1971, while combined vaccination (measles, mumps, rubella) was made mandatory in 1996 as part of the national vaccination program. Reported prevalence values for 2023 were <0.75 cases...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Vaccines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/6/652 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849425753744080896 |
|---|---|
| author | Anna Y. Popova Vyacheslav S. Smirnov Svetlana A. Egorova Luka Dragačević Angelica M. Milichkina Jelena Protić Ekaterina M. Danilova Irina V. Drozd Marija Petrušić Ojuna B. Zhimbaeva Elizaveta S. Glazkova Nataša Gutić Valeri A. Ivanov Edward S. Ramsay Oleg V. Kotsar Vyacheslav Y. Smolensky Areg A. Totolian |
| author_facet | Anna Y. Popova Vyacheslav S. Smirnov Svetlana A. Egorova Luka Dragačević Angelica M. Milichkina Jelena Protić Ekaterina M. Danilova Irina V. Drozd Marija Petrušić Ojuna B. Zhimbaeva Elizaveta S. Glazkova Nataša Gutić Valeri A. Ivanov Edward S. Ramsay Oleg V. Kotsar Vyacheslav Y. Smolensky Areg A. Totolian |
| author_sort | Anna Y. Popova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives:</b> In the Republic of Serbia, measles vaccination was first introduced in 1971, while combined vaccination (measles, mumps, rubella) was made mandatory in 1996 as part of the national vaccination program. Reported prevalence values for 2023 were <0.75 cases per 100K population for measles, 0.09 cases per 100K for mumps, and no cases of rubella. <b>Methods</b>: This cross-sectional study was performed in May, 2024 as part of the project “Herd Immunity to Vaccine-Preventable and Other Relevant Infections in the Belgradian Population.” It focused on assessing herd immunity to measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) among residents insofar as these remain a public concern despite the availability of vaccines. A total of 2533 subjects were distributed across nine age groups, covering those aged 1–70<sup>+</sup> years and various professional groups residing in Belgrade. Participants were stratified by age and activity. Upon obtaining individual information by online questionnaire and receiving a signed statement of informed consent, blood samples were obtained for IgG antibody testing (ELISA) to determine MMR serological status. The results were compared to national and international immunization standards to evaluate herd immunity levels. <b>Results</b>: Our results indicate varying levels of immunity for each virus, with specific demographic groups showing different immunity levels. Total measles seroprevalence during this study was 74.7%, with significant variation across all age groups. While high seropositivity was observed in both children (90.7%) and elder age groups (98.4%), middle-aged individuals in the age group 30–49 years showed significantly lower IgG levels. Between 2021 and 2023, there were no registered cases of rubella detected in Serbia, which indicates a high level of immunity. This was confirmed here with consistently high IgG levels across all age groups, with an average seropositivity of 94.8%. Average mumps seropositivity across all age groups was 85.1%. The lowest value was in the young child (1–5 years) age group (76.1%); the highest was in the elderly group (92.6%). <b>Conclusions</b>: The current findings suggest that the Belgradian population has strong overall immunity to MMR, yet with some concerns regarding measles immunity in middle-aged adults, suggesting a potential need for catch-up vaccinations. While rubella status indicates strong herd immunity and minimal risk of outbreaks, mumps immunity in some groups (children, middle-aged adults) is below the protective threshold. While it is still sufficient to prevent widespread transmission, it should be closely observed. To our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to provide data about MMR seroprevalence in Belgrade. Findings indicate the need for constant surveillance and revaccination of vulnerable/seronegative groups. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a934e246bde340c685b9bc9da771635c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj-art-a934e246bde340c685b9bc9da771635c2025-08-20T03:29:39ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2025-06-0113665210.3390/vaccines13060652Herd Immunity to the Measles, Mumps and Rubella Viruses Among the Belgradian Population in May, 2024Anna Y. Popova0Vyacheslav S. Smirnov1Svetlana A. Egorova2Luka Dragačević3Angelica M. Milichkina4Jelena Protić5Ekaterina M. Danilova6Irina V. Drozd7Marija Petrušić8Ojuna B. Zhimbaeva9Elizaveta S. Glazkova10Nataša Gutić11Valeri A. Ivanov12Edward S. Ramsay13Oleg V. Kotsar14Vyacheslav Y. Smolensky15Areg A. Totolian16Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare,127994 Moscow, RussiaSaint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, 197101 St. Petersburg, RussiaSaint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, 197101 St. Petersburg, RussiaInstitute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera “Torlak”, 11152 Belgrade, SerbiaSaint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, 197101 St. Petersburg, RussiaInstitute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera “Torlak”, 11152 Belgrade, SerbiaSaint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, 197101 St. Petersburg, RussiaSaint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, 197101 St. Petersburg, RussiaInstitute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera “Torlak”, 11152 Belgrade, SerbiaSaint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, 197101 St. Petersburg, RussiaSaint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, 197101 St. Petersburg, RussiaInstitute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera “Torlak”, 11152 Belgrade, SerbiaSaint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, 197101 St. Petersburg, RussiaSaint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, 197101 St. Petersburg, RussiaSaint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, 197101 St. Petersburg, RussiaFederal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare,127994 Moscow, RussiaSaint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, 197101 St. Petersburg, Russia<b>Background/Objectives:</b> In the Republic of Serbia, measles vaccination was first introduced in 1971, while combined vaccination (measles, mumps, rubella) was made mandatory in 1996 as part of the national vaccination program. Reported prevalence values for 2023 were <0.75 cases per 100K population for measles, 0.09 cases per 100K for mumps, and no cases of rubella. <b>Methods</b>: This cross-sectional study was performed in May, 2024 as part of the project “Herd Immunity to Vaccine-Preventable and Other Relevant Infections in the Belgradian Population.” It focused on assessing herd immunity to measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) among residents insofar as these remain a public concern despite the availability of vaccines. A total of 2533 subjects were distributed across nine age groups, covering those aged 1–70<sup>+</sup> years and various professional groups residing in Belgrade. Participants were stratified by age and activity. Upon obtaining individual information by online questionnaire and receiving a signed statement of informed consent, blood samples were obtained for IgG antibody testing (ELISA) to determine MMR serological status. The results were compared to national and international immunization standards to evaluate herd immunity levels. <b>Results</b>: Our results indicate varying levels of immunity for each virus, with specific demographic groups showing different immunity levels. Total measles seroprevalence during this study was 74.7%, with significant variation across all age groups. While high seropositivity was observed in both children (90.7%) and elder age groups (98.4%), middle-aged individuals in the age group 30–49 years showed significantly lower IgG levels. Between 2021 and 2023, there were no registered cases of rubella detected in Serbia, which indicates a high level of immunity. This was confirmed here with consistently high IgG levels across all age groups, with an average seropositivity of 94.8%. Average mumps seropositivity across all age groups was 85.1%. The lowest value was in the young child (1–5 years) age group (76.1%); the highest was in the elderly group (92.6%). <b>Conclusions</b>: The current findings suggest that the Belgradian population has strong overall immunity to MMR, yet with some concerns regarding measles immunity in middle-aged adults, suggesting a potential need for catch-up vaccinations. While rubella status indicates strong herd immunity and minimal risk of outbreaks, mumps immunity in some groups (children, middle-aged adults) is below the protective threshold. While it is still sufficient to prevent widespread transmission, it should be closely observed. To our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to provide data about MMR seroprevalence in Belgrade. Findings indicate the need for constant surveillance and revaccination of vulnerable/seronegative groups.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/6/652measlesmumpsrubellaBelgradeseropositivityvaccination |
| spellingShingle | Anna Y. Popova Vyacheslav S. Smirnov Svetlana A. Egorova Luka Dragačević Angelica M. Milichkina Jelena Protić Ekaterina M. Danilova Irina V. Drozd Marija Petrušić Ojuna B. Zhimbaeva Elizaveta S. Glazkova Nataša Gutić Valeri A. Ivanov Edward S. Ramsay Oleg V. Kotsar Vyacheslav Y. Smolensky Areg A. Totolian Herd Immunity to the Measles, Mumps and Rubella Viruses Among the Belgradian Population in May, 2024 Vaccines measles mumps rubella Belgrade seropositivity vaccination |
| title | Herd Immunity to the Measles, Mumps and Rubella Viruses Among the Belgradian Population in May, 2024 |
| title_full | Herd Immunity to the Measles, Mumps and Rubella Viruses Among the Belgradian Population in May, 2024 |
| title_fullStr | Herd Immunity to the Measles, Mumps and Rubella Viruses Among the Belgradian Population in May, 2024 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Herd Immunity to the Measles, Mumps and Rubella Viruses Among the Belgradian Population in May, 2024 |
| title_short | Herd Immunity to the Measles, Mumps and Rubella Viruses Among the Belgradian Population in May, 2024 |
| title_sort | herd immunity to the measles mumps and rubella viruses among the belgradian population in may 2024 |
| topic | measles mumps rubella Belgrade seropositivity vaccination |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/6/652 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annaypopova herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 AT vyacheslavssmirnov herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 AT svetlanaaegorova herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 AT lukadragacevic herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 AT angelicammilichkina herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 AT jelenaprotic herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 AT ekaterinamdanilova herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 AT irinavdrozd herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 AT marijapetrusic herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 AT ojunabzhimbaeva herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 AT elizavetasglazkova herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 AT natasagutic herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 AT valeriaivanov herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 AT edwardsramsay herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 AT olegvkotsar herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 AT vyacheslavysmolensky herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 AT aregatotolian herdimmunitytothemeaslesmumpsandrubellavirusesamongthebelgradianpopulationinmay2024 |