Age-Specific Seroprevalence of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella IgG across All Age Groups in Chonburi Province, Thailand after the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Nasamon Wanlapakorn Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand;

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Preeyaporn Vichaiwattana Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand;

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Thanunrat Thongmee Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand;

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Jira Chansaenroj Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand;

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Yong Poovorawan Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand;
FRS(T), the Royal Society of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand

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Thailand’s Expanded Program on Immunization revised the timing of the second measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine dose to 2.5 years in 2014 and later to 1.5 years in 2020. These adjustments can temporarily reduce vaccine coverage as the population transitions to the new schedules. Combined with disruptions caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, these changes may have adversely affected vaccine uptake and overall population immunity. This study aimed to evaluate the age-specific seroprevalence of anti-measles, anti-mumps, and anti-rubella IgG in individuals across all age groups in Chonburi province, Thailand, following the COVID-19 pandemic. Between October 2022 and January 2023, 650 participants from Chonburi were included and categorized into nine age groups: <5, 5–10, 11–20, 21–30, 31–40, 41–50, 51–60, 61–70, and >70 years. The levels of antibodies were analyzed using commercial ELISA kits. Overall, 77.5%, 55.1%, and 84.1% were seropositive for MMR antibodies, respectively. Adolescents aged 11–20 years had the lowest seropositivity rates for measles (47.0%) and mumps (27.6%), followed by young adults aged 21–30 years. Rubella seropositivity rates were similarly low in these groups. This study highlights immunity gaps for measles in adolescents and young adults. To address this gap and support ongoing measles elimination efforts, targeted interventions, such as supplementary immunization activities with a booster dose of measles-containing vaccines for this age group, are recommended to prevent the potential resurgence of measles in the near future.

Author Notes

Financial support: This research was financially supported by the Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI), the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), the Research Chair Grant from the National Science and Technology Development Agency (P-15-50004), the Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Chulalongkorn University, and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, and the Second Century Fund (C2F) of Jira Chansaenroj, Chulalongkorn University. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection, analysis, publication decision, or manuscript preparation.

Disclosures: The research protocol underwent review and approval by the Institutional Review Board of the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University (IRB number 0706/65) and the Chonburi Provincial Public Health Office Institutional Review Board (IRB number 0024-2565). This study was conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the principles of good clinical practice. Participants or their parents were provided with information about the study’s objectives, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants or their parents before enrollment.

Authors’ contributions: All authors were involved in the conception and design of the study. N. Wanlapakorn and J. Chansaenroj collected specimens and data. T. Thongmee and P. Vichaiwattana performed the laboratory tests. N. Wanlapakorn and J. Chansaenroj analyzed the data. N. Wanlapakorn drafted the manuscript. All authors revised the manuscript for intellectual content and approved the version to be published. All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Data availability: Data will be made available upon request.

Current contact information: Nasamon Wanlapakorn, Preeyaporn Vichaiwattana, Thanunrat Thongmee, Jira Chansaenroj, and Yong Poovorawan, Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, E-mails: nasamon.w@chula.ac.th, preeyaporn.vic@chulahospital.org, tata033@hotmail.com, job151@hotmail.com, and yong.p@chula.ac.th.

Address correspondence to Yong Poovorawan, Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, 9th Floor Sirikitt Bldg., King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, 1873 Rama IV Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. E-mail: yong.p@chula.ac.th
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