Measles, mumps, and rubella: A cross-sectional study of susceptibility to vaccine-preventable diseases among young people in India.

BACKGROUND: Global elimination of vaccine preventable diseases, such as measles, mumps and rubella is a priority. Many countries have reported diminishing of antibody titres against these diseases among young population as immunization coverage of adolescents and adults in not monitored. The objective of this study was to determine the susceptibility against measles, mumps and rubella among young adults. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study serological evidence of susceptibility to measles, mumps and rubella was determined by qualitative detection of IgG antibody titres by commercially available enzyme linked florescence assay (VIDAS, bioMerieux) in serum samples young adults. RESULTS: A total of 335 young individuals (mean age: 20.54 ± 1.37 years) participated voluntarily between May 2017 to September 2018, of which 183 (54.63%) were males. Seroprotection against measles, mumps and rubella were 87.16%, 82.69% and 79.10% respectively. CONCLUSION: Serological surveillance is important to monitor immune status in population. Susceptibility of young adults to measles, mumps, and rubella indicates need for booster vaccination. With the recent launch of measles-rubella vaccination campaign in India, country specific data will be required to plan periodicity of such campaign, which in turn would be based on accumulation of susceptible individuals in a community. Lastly, inclusion of mumps vaccine in the national universal immunization program needs consideration.