Measles Vaccine Coverage and Disease Outbreaks: A Systematic Review of the Early Impact of COVID-19 in Low and Lower-Middle Income Countries

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate changes to measles-containing vaccine (MCV) provision and subsequent measles disease cases in low- and lower-middle income countries (LICs, LMICs) in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic search was conducted of MEDLINE, OVID EMBASE and PubMed records. Primary quantitative and qualitative research studies published from January 2020 were included if they reported on COVID-19 impact on MCV provision and/or measles outbreak rates within LICs and LMICs. Results: 45 studies were included. The change in MCV1 vaccination coverage in national and international regions ranged −13% to +44.4% from pre-COVID time periods. In local regions, the median MCV1 and overall EPI rate changed by −23.3% and −28.5% respectively. Median MCV2 rate was disproportionally impacted in local areas during COVID-interruption time-periods (−48.2%) with ongoing disruption in early-recovery time-periods (−17.7%). 8.9% of studies reported on vaccination status of confirmed measles cases; from these, 71%–91% had received no MCV dose. Conclusion: MCV vaccination coverage experienced ongoing disruption during the recovery periods after initial COVID-19 disruption. Vaccination in local area datasets notably experienced longer-term disruption compared to nationally reported figures.