Benefits Due to Immunization against Measles
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Historically controlled population-level surveillance and impact analysis
OpenAlex W121360931 · doi:10.2307/4593651
What was done
An epidemiological and economic impact evaluation was conducted to quantify the nationwide effects of measles immunization following the 1963 licensure of the live virus vaccine and the 1966 eradication initiative in the United States. US incidence estimates from 1968 were compared against baseline estimates from the 10-year pre-immunization era (1953–1962).
What was found
Prior to widespread vaccination, the US experienced an estimated 4 million cases of measles, 4,000 cases of measles encephalitis, and 400 deaths annually. By 1968, estimated annual measles cases dropped to 250,000, approximately 6% of the pre-immunization 10-year mean. Specific figures for averted school days, hospital days, and dollar savings are mentioned as paper objectives but not quantified in the abstract.
Why it matters
This report provides an early quantification of the dramatic population-level decline in measles incidence following vaccine licensure and organized national eradication campaigns in the United States.
Limits
The abstract relies on broad epidemiological estimates rather than precise case ascertainment. It does not provide statistical error bounds, individual-level patient data, detailed methods for economic modeling, or specific numerical figures for cost and hospital savings.
Cited by
- context Measles mortality or incidence had already decreased by over 90% before the introduction of the measles vaccine in the 1960s.