To achieve the goal of measles elimination, herd immunity with 95% seroprotection in the community is required. This study aimed to describe the measles seropositivity rate among Thai children and adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 3−18 years in Bangkok and its suburbs. Measles IgG antibodies were measured using a EUROIMMUN enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Seropositivity is defined as a measles IgG titer of ≥200 IU/L, due to a correlation with a >85% positive rate with a plaque reduction neutralizing titer of >120. Factors associated with seropositivity were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. From May to July 2020, 570 children with a median (IQR) age of 11.7 (9.4−14.8) years were enrolled. The geometric mean titer (GMT) of anti-measles IgG was 281 IU/L (95% CI; 257−306). The proportion of children with seropositivity was inversely correlated with age; 3−5 years 85.3%, 6−9 years 72.5%, 10−14 years 50.7%, and 15−18 years 56.3%. Adolescents aged 10−18 years had a lower measles seropositivity rate compared with young children; aOR 0.29 (95% CI 0.17−0.48). Only half of the adolescents who received two doses of measles-containing vaccine maintained measles IgG above the seropositive level. A measles booster dose for young adults may be needed to achieve the measles elimination goal.
Keywords: Thai; adolescents; children; measles; seroprevalence.